MIAMI, Florida (Reuters) - Eugenio Suárez hit an RBI double in the top of the ninth inning to score the game-winning run as Venezuela beat the United States 3-2 in the World Baseball Classic final on March 17, 2026, at loanDepot park.[1][2]

Suárez, a 34-year-old third baseman for Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks, drove a 3-2 changeup from U.S. pitcher Garrett Whitlock to left-center field after Javier Sanoja stole second base.[1][2][3]

The Venezuelan infielder pointed skyward upon reaching second base and later explained to FOX Sports reporter Ken Rosenthal: "I just prayed at the time. I pointed to my family out there – they were happy for me. God is good, man. God is good."[2]

Bryce Harper, the Philadelphia Phillies slugger playing for Team USA, hit a solo home run off Andrés Machado in the bottom of the eighth to tie the score at 2-2.[1]

Wilyer Abreu, an outfielder for MLB's Boston Red Sox on the Venezuelan roster, hit a solo home run earlier to extend Venezuela's lead.[1]

The win marked Venezuela's maiden World Baseball Classic championship after reaching the final by defeating Italy the previous night on March 16, when Suárez also hit a solo home run.[1][4]

"I mean, what can I say about this? It’s amazing. God is good, all the glory is for the Lord Jesus. He was with us the whole time," Suárez told Rosenthal. "We have to glorify, put his name in front of everything. Nobody believed in Venezuela, but now we [won] the championship today. This is a celebration for all [of Venezuela]."[2]

Suárez described his teammates as family: "The union – we are together the whole time. We’re not just teammates, we’re all family. This team is awesome... That’s why this is a lot for us as players, as people, as human beings and as a Venezuelan. Now, we are the champions."[1][2]

The tournament concluded at loanDepot park, which hosted the semifinals and final.[4][5]

Players from both teams will rejoin their MLB clubs for the 2026 regular season, which typically begins in late March.[3]

Sources

1. Fox News Digital, Venezuela shocks Team USA to win World Baseball Classic for first time, March 18, 2026, https://www.foxnews.com/sports
2. FOX Sports, Eugenio Suárez post-game interview with Ken Rosenthal, March 17, 2026, https://www.foxsports.com/mlb
3. MLB.com, Eugenio Suárez Player Page, accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/player/eugenio-suarez-570178
4. WBSC, World Baseball Classic 2026, September 2024, https://www.wbsc.org/en/event/world-baseball-classic-2026/event-home
5. Wikipedia, loanDepot park, accessed October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LoanDepot_park