Once again, the final of the World Baseball Classic delivered a game worth remembering. This time, it was Venezuela breaking through against Team USA, with a win bound to resonate throughout the country.
The Venezuelans defeated the United States, 3-2, in Miami on Tuesday, capping off a tournament that showed baseball at its best. Tears were flowing as soon as Venezuela closer Daniel Palencia’s fastball reached the glove of Salvador Perez.
It was a victory that took fortitude from Venezuela, who held a 2-0 lead in the eighth inning only to lose it on an electric game-tying home run from Bryce Harper. With a fresh ballgame and an inning to go, Venezuela regrouped.
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And then Eugenio Suarez put them back on top.
On the defensive side, it took an incredible performance from a gassed Venezuela pitching staff to keep a stacked Team USA lineup under thumb. The Venezuelans were so dominant throughout the night, a unit filled with All-Stars didn’t have a single at-bat with runners in scoring position for the entire game.
Follow along with Yahoo Sports as Team USA takes on Venezuela on Tuesday in the World Baseball Classic final.
Live71 updates
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 8:02 PM PDT
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 8:11 PM PDT
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 8:10 PM PDT
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:55 PM PDT
Roman Anthony strikes out, and Venezuela wins the World Baseball Classic.
Palencia finishes the job and tosses his glove to the sky, having shut down the USA bats to seal his country’s first tournament title.
Team USA’s offense was nearly absent in this game, aside from Bryce Harper’s home run, and the Americans will head back to spring training with a lot of regrets and what-ifs.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:53 PM PDT
Gunnar Henderson pops out, and Team USA is down to its very last out.
It’ll be up to Roman Anthony.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:51 PM PDT
Daniel Palencia is on the mound to close this out for Venezuela.
He gets Schwarber swinging for out No. 1.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:51 PM PDT
After an intentional walk to Abreu, Salvador Perez flies out.
On to the bottom of the ninth. Schwarber is up first.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:45 PM PDT
Gimenez flies out, and the USA goes to Tyler Rogers.
He gets Tovar to pop out, and Geno is almost doubled off second, but he makes it back just in time. Two outs.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:38 PM PDT
Geno Suarez delivers a double to left field, and just like that, Venezuela retakes the lead.
Whitlock left a changeup over the middle of the plate, and Suarez did not miss.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:36 PM PDT
Luis Arraez draws a leadoff walk for Venezuela. Pinch runner Javier Sanoja replaces him and swiftly steals second. Will Smith’s throw to the bag is not in time.
The USA challenges the call, but the ruling on the field stands. The go-ahead run is in scoring position with nobody out and Geno Suarez up next.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:31 PM PDT
Garrett Whitlock gets the ball next for Team USA, now working to preserve a tie.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:28 PM PDT
Aaron Judge strikes out for the third time tonight, and that’s the end of the eighth inning.
This is a brand-new ballgame headed to the ninth inning.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:25 PM PDT
Bryce Harper ties the WBC final with one big swing, sending a 93-mph changeup right over the middle of the plate straight out to center field.
That’s two runs, and this game is tied.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:23 PM PDT
That’s three consecutive innings with a 2-out baserunner for Team USA.
Bobby Witt Jr. draws a walk after Turang strikes out and PCA grounds out. Harper is up.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:18 PM PDT
Acuña grounds out, Garcia pops out, and it’s the Americans’ turn again to try to muster some offense.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:18 PM PDT
Jack Baer
A quick 1-2-3 inning for Griffin Jax and it’s still 2-0 Venezuela going into the bottom of the eighth.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:15 PM PDT
Jack Baer
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:15 PM PDT
Griffin Jax is on the mound for USA in the top of the eighth.
He gets Jackson Chourio swinging for out No. 1.
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:15 PM PDT
Jack Baer
Team USA’s offensive performance tonight, in a single pitch:
Tue, March 17, 2026 at 7:12 PM PDT
Jack Baer
Machado gets a pop-out from Will Smith and that ends the seventh inning with the US still down 2-0. You can probably expect Machado back out there for the eighth inning, with Danny Palencia looming as the last big Venezuelan arm remaining.