Rusty Weiss
Underdog Venezuela shocked powerhouse Team USA 3-2 in the World Baseball Classic final Tuesday night, claiming their first-ever WBC title on the back of Eugenio Suárez’s clutch ninth-inning heroics.
The veteran slugger stepped up with the game tied in the top of the ninth, ripping a go-ahead RBI double off Garrett Whitlock that plated the decisive run and sent Venezuelan fans into absolute pandemonium at loanDepot Park.
It also led to a bit of sour grapes for the American squad.
After Bryce Harper had tied it with a two-run bomb in the eighth, it looked like the stars-and-stripes squad might pull out another classic comeback — but Suárez and the relentless Venezuelans had other plans.
The team capped it all off with Daniel Palencia mowing down the U.S. side in order, including a 99.7 mph heater for the final out.
VENEZUELA WINS THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC 🇻🇪
— Pikkit (@pikkitsports) March 18, 2026
💰 They were +900 to win it before the tournament started pic.twitter.com/MtKx8khUXD
Eugenio Suárez Delivers WBC Glory as Venezuelan Star Declares “God is Good”
Nobody gave Venezuela much of a shot coming in, but this tight-knit crew — calling each other family and playing with raw passion for their flag — proved the doubters wrong in the biggest way possible.
Suárez, emotional on second base as he pointed to the heavens, embodied the moment. In his postgame interview with FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the hero didn’t soak in personal glory or talk stats. Instead, he went straight to the source.
“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,” he said. “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].”
It’s a message that hits home for a country that’s been through plenty in recent years under a now-removed dictator (Thanks, Trump!), and needed this kind of joy.
NEW: Venezuela’s Eugenio Suárez gives glory to Jesus Christ after winning the World Baseball Classic against Team USA.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 18, 2026
“God is good. All the glory is for Lord Jesus”
“He was with us the whole time. We have to glorify, put his name in front of everything”pic.twitter.com/JKGGKXp16L
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That’s the kind of unapologetic faith and grit that makes sports worth watching in a world full of scripted nonsense. While Team USA walked away disappointed after falling short again in a WBC final, Suárez and Venezuela delivered a reminder that heart, belief, and giving credit where it’s due still matter.
God is good indeed. Venezuela’s on top of the baseball world, and they made sure Jesus got the first shoutout.