Venezuela Wins WBC
Venezuela beat Team USA 3-2 to win their first-ever World Baseball Classic title in a tense final at LoanDepot Park — Luis Arraez famously dropped to his knees and sang the anthem amid celebrations. The upset is already reshaping early-season storylines as international stars head back to MLB clubs. (ejsportsmedia.com) (mlb.com)
Eugenio Suárez ripped the tournament’s biggest hit — an RBI double off Garrett Whitlock that scored a go-ahead run in the top of the ninth after Javier Sanoja stole second on a review to put the tying run in scoring position. (mlb.com) Chicago Cubs reliever Daniel Palencia closed the game with a perfect ninth, striking out two and touching 99.7 mph on a heater as he collected his third save of the WBC. (mlb.com) Kansas City’s Maikel García was named tournament MVP after going 10-for-26 (.385) with seven RBIs across Venezuela’s seven games, two more hits than any other player in the event. (cbssports.com) Venezuela’s early offense included a Maikel García sacrifice fly that produced the first run and a Wilyer Abreu solo homer in the fifth, while Eduardo Rodríguez worked through the U.S. lineup as Venezuela’s most effective starter. (mlb.com) The crowd at loanDepot Park was listed at 36,490, with large Venezuelan contingents waving yellow‑blue‑red flags and prompting repeated roars that the team said fueled its late rally. (mlb.com) Major‑league representation in the final was broad — 23 different MLB clubs had at least one player in the championship game, including stars like Ronald Acuña Jr., Eugenio Suárez and Eduardo Rodríguez, underscoring immediate roster impacts for multiple MLB teams as players head back to spring operations. (sportingnews.com)
