Eugenio Suárez hit an RBI double in the ninth inning off Garrett Whitlock, scoring Javier Sanoja from second base to give Venezuela a 3-2 win over the United States in the World Baseball Classic final on March 17, 2026, at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida.
Suárez, a 33-year-old third baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks, pointed skyward after reaching second base. In a post-game interview with FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, he credited his faith for the victory. "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.
Wilyer Abreu hit a solo home run earlier in the game to help build Venezuela's lead. The United States tied the score in the eighth inning on a home run by Bryce Harper off Andrés Machado.
The win marked Venezuela's first World Baseball Classic title. Previously, Venezuela reached the semifinals in 2017, losing to the United States. The United States won the tournament in 2017, while Japan claimed the 2023 title.
The final was the championship game of the quadrennial tournament organized by World Baseball Softball Confederation and Major League Baseball. Semifinals and the final were held at loanDepot park, home of the Miami Marlins.
The night before, on March 16, 2026, Suárez hit a solo home run in Venezuela's win over Italy. He described his teammates as family: "We’re not just teammates, we’re all family. ... 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."
Sources
- Publisher/Organization name: MLB.com
Article/page title: World Baseball Classic 2026 dates, venues announced
Publication date: February 5, 2024
Direct URL: https://www.mlb.com/news/world-baseball-classic-2026-dates-venues-announced - Publisher/Organization name: MLB.com
Article/page title: Eugenio Suárez Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News
Accessed date: October 2024 (ongoing)
Direct URL: https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/player/eugenio-suarez-570558 - Publisher/Organization name: WBSC
Article/page title: WBSC and MLB announce 2026 World Baseball Classic™ venues, dates and tournament format
Publication date: February 5, 2024
Direct URL: https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/wbsc-and-mlb-announce-2026-world-baseball-classic-venues-dates-and-tournament-format - Publisher/Organization name: Wikipedia
Article/page title: loanDepot park
Accessed date: October 2024
Direct URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LoanDepot_park