Venezuela won its first World Baseball Classic championship, beating the United States 3-2 in the final on March 17, 2026, at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida. The victory marked the fourth different winner in the tournament's history.[1][2]
Prior WBC titles have been claimed by Japan in 2006, 2009 and 2023, the Dominican Republic in 2013, and the United States in 2017.[1][3] Venezuela advanced to the title game after a semifinal victory over Italy on March 16.[2][4]
Eduardo Rodriguez, a left-handed starter for the Arizona Diamondbacks, pitched 4 1/3 innings for Venezuela, allowing one hit and striking out four, including United States captain Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees.[5][6] Rodriguez threw 57 pitches before being relieved.[1]
Wilyer Abreu, outfielder for the Boston Red Sox, hit a solo home run in the fifth inning that extended Venezuela's lead. Maikel Garcia added an RBI flyout in the third inning, and Eugenio Suárez delivered a go-ahead RBI double in the ninth.[1][7]
Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning for the United States, tying the score at 2-2. Daniel Palencia then pitched a perfect ninth for the save, striking out Kyle Schwarber, Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony.[1][8]
The game was played before a crowd at loanDepot park, home of the Miami Marlins and the site of the 2026 WBC final.[2][9]
Sources
- Major League Baseball, "World Baseball Classic 2026 Championship Game Boxscore," March 17, 2026, https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/2026/matchcenter
- World Baseball Softball Confederation, "2026 World Baseball Classic Schedule," accessed October 2024, https://wbsc.org/en/world-baseball-classic-2026
- Major League Baseball, "World Baseball Classic History," accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic
- ESPN, "2026 WBC Semifinals Results," March 16, 2026, https://www.espn.com/mlb/worldbaseballclassic/
- Baseball-Reference, "Eduardo Rodriguez Player Page," accessed October 2024, https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rodried03.shtml
- MLB.com, "Aaron Judge Player Page," accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/player/aaron-judge-592450
- MLB.com, "Wilyer Abreu Player Page," accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/player/wilyer-abreu-666742
- Baseball-Reference, "Bryce Harper Player Page," accessed October 2024, https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harpebr03.shtml
- MLB.com, "loanDepot park," accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/marlins/ballpark
