Eugenio Suárez delivered an RBI double in the top of the ninth Tuesday as Venezuela bested Team USA 3-2 to win the World Baseball Classic.
Luis Arraez drew a rare walk on what looked to be strike two to open the ninth against Garrett Whitlock and then pinch-runner Javier Sanoja stole second on a close play. Suárez followed with a clean double into the gap in right-center for the go-ahead run, and Daniel Palencia mowed down Kyle Schwarber, pinch-hitter Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony in the bottom of the ninth. Team USA was shut out for seven innings until Bryce Harper hit a game-tying two-run homer in the eighth. Venezuela’s previous runs came in a Maikel Garcia sac fly and a Wilyer Abreu homer. It’s Venezuela’s first WBC title, and the U.S. is the runnerup for the second straight tournament after losing to Japan by the same score in the final last time out.