Venezuela beat the United States 3-2 in the World Baseball Classic championship game on March 17, 2026, at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, claiming the nation's first WBC title. The victory came a day after Venezuela's semifinal win over Italy on March 16 at the same venue.[1][2]
Prior to 2026, Venezuela's best WBC finishes were quarterfinal appearances in 2009, 2013 and 2017. The three previous champions were Japan in 2006, 2009 and 2023; the Dominican Republic in 2013; and the United States in 2017.[3]
Eduardo Rodriguez, a 32-year-old left-handed pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks, started for Venezuela and pitched 4.1 innings, allowing one hit to Milwaukee Brewers infielder Brice Turang while striking out four batters, including U.S. captain Aaron Judge. Rodriguez threw 57 pitches before being replaced by manager Omar Lopez.[4]
Venezuela took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on an RBI fly ball by Kansas City Royals infielder Maikel Garcia. Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu, a Venezuelan native, extended the lead to 2-0 with a solo home run in the fifth against U.S. starter Nolan McLean.[5]
The United States rallied in the bottom of the eighth. After a walk to Bobby Witt Jr., Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper hit a two-run home run off Andres Machado to tie the score at 2-2. Venezuela regained the lead in the ninth when Eugenio Suarez, Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman, hit an RBI double to left-center scoring pinch-runner Javier Sanoja, who had walked and stolen second.
Daniel Palencia pitched the bottom of the ninth for the save, striking out Kyle Schwarber and Roman Anthony while Gunnar Henderson flied out. The U.S. managed only two hits in the game.
The 2026 WBC featured 16 teams across four pools from March 6-11, with quarterfinals on March 13-14, semifinals on March 15-16 and the final on March 17, all at loanDepot park, home of the Miami Marlins.[1] Venezuela competed in Pool C alongside the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Panama.[1]
Sources
- MLB.com
2026 World Baseball Classic pools, venues, dates announced
March 14, 2024
https://www.mlb.com/news/world-baseball-classic-2026-dates-venues-pools-announced - MLB.com
World Baseball Classic
Accessed October 2024
https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic - Wikipedia
Venezuela national baseball team (World Baseball Classic section)
Accessed October 2024
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuela_national_baseball_team#World_Baseball_Classic - MLB.com
Eduardo Rodriguez player page
Accessed October 2024
https://www.mlb.com/player/eduardo-rodriguez-608566 - MLB.com
Wilyer Abreu player page
Accessed October 2024
https://www.mlb.com/player/wilyer-abreu-666742