In the blink of an eye, the nervous energy that coursed through LoanDepot Park on Tuesday night transformed into jubilation. Bryce Harper, with a single hit in the eighth inning, changed the course of the World Baseball Classic final for the United States team, tying the score against Venezuela, which had dominated the game until that moment. Silence took over the Venezuelan fans, but the calm didn’t last long. After Luis Arráez received a walk to start the ninth inning, and following the stolen base by pinch runner Javier Sanoja, Eugenio Suárez hit the most crucial hit of his career: a double that drove in the go-ahead run, sealing Venezuela’s 3-2 victory. Daniel Palencia secured the first WBC championship for Venezuela, retiring the Americans in order. Palencia closed the game with a 99.7 mph fastball, striking out Roman Anthony and unleashing an euphoric celebration while the United States team, three years after losing 3-2 to Japan in the WBC final, watched in astonishment. Both teams arrived on Tuesday with an identical 5-1 record in the tournament. Venezuela, after losing their last group stage game against the Dominican Republic, achieved consecutive victories against Japan, the defending champion, and Italy, the revelation team of the tournament. The United States, for its part, lost to Italy in the group stage before narrowly defeating Canada and the Dominican Republic, securing its place in the final for the third consecutive time in the WBC. The pre-game ceremony was a stunning visual display. The finalists paraded from the ends of the field to line up along the baselines, while the projection of images on the pitch reviewed the highlights of the tournament, from the group stage to the semi-finals. The United States, led by captain Aaron Judge, carrying the American flag, entered from left field as the home team, after winning a coin toss on Monday. Venezuela, with Arráez as flag bearer, marched from right field. The meeting took place amidst a tense political situation between both countries.
“Tonight, we will all be together. The whole country will come to a standstill to watch the game, and together we will have better generations for our country, united without colors, political colors or ideologies”
Omar López, manager of VenezuelaThe Miami metropolitan area, with the largest concentration of Venezuelan immigrants in the United States, with more than 250,000, witnessed a deafening atmosphere. Thousands of fans supported their national team, surpassing the supporters of the American team with shouts, chants, and instruments. Venezuelan fans erupted in the third inning when a sacrifice fly by Maikel García, following a single by Salvador Pérez, opened the scoring. López opted for Pérez, 35 years old, over William Contreras, because this could be his last chance to represent his country, due to a new tournament provision that prevents securing contracts for players over 37 years old. Pérez, who will turn 37 in May 2027, expressed his excitement before the game. This was the fourth WBC for Pérez. Wilyer Abreu, who was debuting in the tournament, was one of Venezuela’s key figures. Abreu’s three-run homer in the victory over Japan made the difference. On Tuesday, in the most important game of his life, he extended the lead with a solo home run. The two-run difference seemed insurmountable for the Americans. The United States team, which scored two runs in the semifinal, was ineffective at the plate. Left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez kept the Americans at bay for 4 innings and a third. Three relievers, Eduard Bazardo, Jose Butto and Angel Zerpa, held the shutout. In seven innings, the Americans accumulated 21 strikeouts. In the eighth inning, after Bobby Witt Jr. received a walk, Harper connected on a 93 mph changeup from Andrés Machado, sending the ball over the center field fence to tie the game. Harper celebrated his home run and, upon reaching the plate, pointed to the American flag on his left sleeve, and raised his fist. Harper, who had had a discreet performance in the tournament, with criticism for his low performance, had his moment in the WBC, but it was ephemeral.
