Eugenio Suárez hit a game-winning RBI double in the ninth inning as Venezuela came from behind to beat the United States 3-2 in the World Baseball Classic final on March 17, 2026, at loanDepot park in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Suárez, a 35-year-old third baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks in Major League Baseball[1][3], delivered the hit off a 3-2 changeup from U.S. pitcher Garrett Whitlock after Javier Sanoja stole second base. The victory gave Venezuela its first WBC title; the team had advanced to the quarterfinals in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2023 previously[2][3].

Wilyer Abreu hit a solo home run for Venezuela earlier in the game. Bryce Harper hit a solo home run off Andrés Machado in the eighth inning to tie the score at 2-2 for the U.S. Venezuela held the U.S. to two hits overall.

In a post-game interview with FOX Sports reporter Ken Rosenthal, Suárez attributed the win to his faith. "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. He added that he prayed while standing on second base after the double.

The World Baseball Classic is a quadrennial international tournament organized by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), featuring top national teams. The 2026 edition ran from early March to March 21, with pools played in Miami, Houston, Tokyo and San Juan before knockout rounds[2]. Venezuela competed in Pool B in Houston alongside Japan, South Korea, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Israel and Nicaragua[2].

The day before the final, on March 16, Suárez hit a solo home run against Italy at the same venue. loanDepot park is the home stadium of the Miami Marlins[4] and hosted the 2023 WBC championship round.

Suárez described his teammates as family. "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]. The union – we are together the whole time. We’re not just teammates, we’re all family. Now, we are the champions."

Sources

1. MLB.com
   Player Page: Eugenio Suárez
   Accessed October 2024
   https://www.mlb.com/player/eugenio-suarez-570558
2. World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)
   World Baseball Classic 2026 Pools and International Dates Announced
   May 9, 2024
   https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/world-baseball-classic-2026-pools-and-international-dates-announced
3. Wikipedia
   Eugenio Suárez
   Accessed October 2024
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenio_Su%C3%A1rez
4. MLB.com
   loanDepot park
   Accessed October 2024
   https://www.mlb.com/marlins/ballpark