Venezuela defeats the USA to win their first ever World Baseball Classic.
On March 17, in Miami, Fl. at Loan Depot Park, the Americans were set to host Venezuela for the World Baseball Classic finals. An opponent that not many fans expected, a heavy underdog, and a team that needed it more than any other—Venezuela came out swinging. Entering into the game with +235 money line, or an implied probability of just under 30 per cent, fans from across the world had Venezuela as victors in their heart, but not in their odds.
The game was all tied for the first two innings, but a leadoff single from Salvador Perez put the captain into scoring range. An additional walk and wild pitch from Nolan McLean had the captain ready on third base—and a deep flyball into centerfield made for an easy tag up trip to home plate to give Venezuela the lead.
Into the fifth inning, Venezuela struck once more, Wilyer Abreu got a hold of McLean’s 96 MPH fastball, driving the ball deep into the centerfield home run zone.
Up until the seventh inning, Venezuela had held the USA scoreless, but the legendary Bryce Harper had other plans in the eighth. With a runner on first, two outs, and a 1-0 pitch count, Harper hit a game-tying two-run homer, putting the USA back in the game.
In the ninth inning, Venezuela was desperate for a response. Javier Sanoja was put on base as a pinch runner for Luis Arraez, with all hopes to be the go ahead scorer. With zero out, the speedy runner took off for second base, and was ruled safe by milliseconds after further review from the umpires.
Eugenio Suárez took the plate looking for an RBI, having been 0 for 3 thus far he was out for revenge. Showing up for a long at bat, filling the pitch count to 3-2, he took the USA pitcher Garret Whitlock’s outside changeup to left-center field. The ball split the gap between the two outfielders, and was enough to bring Sanoja home to take the lead, 3-2.
For the first time in history, the chamo’s from the Land of Grace became World Baseball Classic Champions. History was made, emotions were high, and Venezuela solidified themselves as the best baseball nation in what has been deemed by many players as the best baseball on earth.
It’s hard to understand what it means for the nation of Venezuela, the players and coaches dream of this achievement. Perhaps there would have been no better of an opponent than the USA, a team which had home advantage, and is a sworn rival for all baseball nations.
Capping it all off with fans and players, dancing to the beat of drums heard all across the stadium, and the world. In proper Venezuelan fashion.
