MIAMI — Eugenio Suarez’s double in the top of the ninth inning drove in the tiebreaking run, giving Venezuela a 3-2 win over the United States and its first-ever World Baseball Classic championship on Tuesday night.

Daniel Palencia closed out the game in the bottom of the ninth, working a perfect 1-2-3 inning to earn his second save in as many nights and third of the tournament.

Maikel Garcia, who drove in the game’s first run on a sacrifice fly, was named the tournament MVP. Garcia led the WBC with 10 hits, batting .385 with one home run and seven RBIs.

“Every Venezuelan knows the effort we put in, and from where we come from,” said catcher Salvador Perez, the team captain. “Even in the smallest parts of Venezuela, people were supporting us. Even people watching on little black-and-white TVs, on their knees, supporting us. I just want to tell those people, ‘Thank you, from the bottom of my heart,’ for their support. We felt so much positivity. And even the ones who weren’t positive with us, I thank them for motivating us.”

Team USA fell in the WBC final for the second consecutive time, again missing the chance to win its second Classic championship. The United States, which won the 2017 title, lost 3-2 in the 2023 final to Japan.

“I would love to do it again. I would love to get over the finish line. Not only two times, but (losing) 3-2 each time,” U.S. manager Mark DeRosa said after the loss. “Why? Because if you saw how hurting those guys are in that locker room now, you’d know why. The tidal wave of emotion that this WBC has become… It’s a special group to be a part of, and I’m proud of the way we represented the USA.”

Venezuela, which had never previously advanced to the final, beat defending champion Japan in the quarterfinals and eliminated first-time semifinalist Italy before defeating the U.S.

“This is a moment of pride and it’s unforgettable,” Venezuela’s Luis Arraez said. “Getting this win makes me so proud because we’re dedicating this to our country, which really needs to feel this right now. It’s amazing to do this especially in Miami. We got so much support from the people from Venezuela and a lot of Latin people here.”

Suarez hit a 3-2 changeup from Garrett Whitlock (0-1) into the left-center-field gap with no outs, driving in Javier Sanoja for the go-ahead run. Sanoja had entered the game as a pinch runner after Arraez drew a leadoff walk. He stole second base, setting up the scoring opportunity.

“From the dugout, I was just making sure I supported my teammates and stayed ready,” Sanoja said. “My moment came and I was ready to steal that base. It was a pitch we felt we could run, and (Whitlock) made a slow delivery and I felt it was a perfect decision.”

Venezuela’s ninth-inning rally followed Bryce Harper’s 432-foot, two-run homer off reliever Andres Machado (1-0) in the eighth, which tied the game at 2. The home run ended a streak of 21-plus scoreless innings by Venezuelan relievers.

“I knew he was going to have a moment,” DeRosa said of Harper. “That’s who he is. He has the ability to have big moments in big spots. It hurts. We spent a special moment in my office after the game. I’ve watched him grow up in his career. I was just proud he was part of the team.”

Aside from Harper’s homer, Venezuela’s pitchers limited the U.S. lineup to just two hits. Eduardo Rodriguez started for Venezuela, allowing one hit and one walk over 4 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out four. Eduard Bazardo, Jose Butto, and Angel Zerpa combined for one hit over 2 1/3 relief innings.

Venezuela struck first in the third inning when Garcia’s sacrifice fly scored Perez, who singled to start the frame. In the fifth, Wilyer Abreu’s 414-foot solo home run off U.S. starter Nolan McLean gave Venezuela a 2-0 lead. McLean allowed two runs on four hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings, striking out four.

-Field Level Media/Reuters