Eugenio Suárez hit an RBI double in the ninth inning off Garrett Whitlock to score Javier Sanoja from second base, giving Venezuela a 3-2 win over the United States in the World Baseball Classic final at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 17, 2026, according to a report by Fox News Digital sports writer Scott Thompson.
Wilyer Abreu hit a solo home run earlier for Venezuela. The U.S. tied the game in the eighth on a home run by Bryce Harper off Andrés Machado. Venezuela had held the U.S. to two hits through most of the game, per the report.[1]
In the previous semifinal on March 16, Suárez hit a solo home run against Italy at the same venue, helping Venezuela advance to the final, Fox News Digital reported.[1]
Suárez, a 34-year-old third baseman from Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela, who plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball, pointed to the sky after the hit and credited his faith in a post-game interview with Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal.[2][3]
"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 said. "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]."[1]
"I just prayed at the time," Suárez added when asked what he said while standing on second base. "God is good, man. God is good."[1]
The victory marked Venezuela's first WBC title. The country previously reached the quarterfinals in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2023.[4] The final was held at loanDepot park, the announced venue for the 2026 WBC championship game.[5]
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 – we are family here. That’s why we play with passion, with love because we feel that on our jersey. We feel our country on the front of us."[1]
Sources
- Fox News Digital, sports coverage page (citing reporter Scott Thompson and FOX Sports interview), accessed October 2024, https://www.foxnews.com/sports
- MLB.com, "Eugenio Suarez player profile", accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/player/eugenio-suarez-608031
- Wikipedia, "Eugenio Suárez", accessed October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenio_Su%C3%A1rez
- World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), "World Baseball Classic History", accessed October 2024, https://www.wbsc.org/en/world-baseball-classic
- World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), "WBSC announces loanDepot park as Final venue for World Baseball Classic 2026", 14 November 2024, https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/wbc2026-final-venue-loandepot-park-miami
