2026 World Baseball Classic Championship Live Score, Results and Highlights for USA vs. Venezuela

For the second time in three years, Team USA came up one run short in the World Baseball Classic Final. And this time, Venezuela gets the last laugh.

The WBC Final turned on a dime when Bryce Harper tied it at 2-2 with a two-run home run in the eighth inning, but only momentarily. Eugenio Suárez responded with a go-ahead RBI double in the ninth, and that was the difference in a 3-2 final.

This was Venezuela's first trip to the final game of the World Baseball Classic, and manager Omar López treated it that way. He pulled every string at his disposal, ultimately capping a managerial master class throughout the tournament. Don't forget Maikel Garcia, who won MVP of the tournament.

Ahead are our three big takeaways from the WBC Final, followed by play-by-play and running commentary throughout the game.

Takeaways from Venezuela's 3-2 Win over USA

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Team USA Wasted One of the Greatest Offenses Ever Assembled

Coming into the WBC, Team USA's offense looked impossibly good. So, how the heck did it go out with a whimper by going 3-for-30 in the final game?

Oodles of credit to Venezuela's pitchers, who pounded the zone and just didn't make many mistakes. Eduardo Rodriguez, especially, had USA hitters totally off-balance in his 4.1 innings of one-hit ball.

Yet there's also something to be said about how this Team USA offense just never got its engine revved up.

An .800 overall OPS is respectable, but the four runs in the final two games are what will always define this run for Team USA. The list of primary culprits reads like a who's-who of American-born stars:

Aaron Judge: 1-for-8, 5 K

Bobby Witt Jr.: 1-for-7, 3 K

Will Smith: 1-for-7, 3 K

Kyle Schwarber: 1-for-5, 4 K

Too many guys looked like they were taking spring training swings, which is easy to contextualize (it is March, after all) but a lot harder to forgive.

Omar López Managed His Butt Off

The best way to win games is to have the best roster. Having a manager who can work magic is the next-best thing.

This is the story of Venezuela's winning run with López at the helm. He especially got the most out of his bullpen, which ended the WBC with 18.2 innings and just two runs allowed in the last three games.

Not to be overlooked is how a pinch runner and a stolen base set up the winning run for Venezuela. Both calls were on López, who managed the final frame like he knew he was running out of pitchers.

It's an extraordinary culmination for a baseball lifer who has been with the Houston Astros for over a quarter-century. And the next time a major league managing job opens up, López should expect some calls.

A Signature Moment for a Venezuela Legend

Then there's Eugenio Suárez, who managed to top even his epic swing for the Seattle Mariners in last year's ALCS.

He worked a seven-pitch at-bat to make it happen, and he had to go out and get a Garrett Whitlock changeup for it. But as soon as it left the barrel, there was no doubt. There never is when "Geno" connects.

With 325 career home runs to his name, Suárez is Venezuela's third all-time leading home run hitter in the majors. The two guys ahead of him (Miguel Cabrera and Andres Galarraga) are both retired.

If anyone was going to be the hero for Venezuela in that spot, why not him?

9th Inning

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Eugenio Suárez

Venezuela 2, USA 2 at the start

Top of 9th: Venezuela vs. Garrett Whitlock

Pitching change: Garrett Whitlock is in for Jax. He also pitched on Sunday, working a clean eighth in advance of Mason Miller in the ninth.

Arraez greets him with a leadoff walk to start a threat. Nice job by him to lay off a close sinker for ball four.

Pinch runner: Javier Sanoja is in for Arraez at first. He steals second on the third pitch to Suárez, but USA is challenging the tag at second base.

Ruling: call stands. It was a bang-bang play and there didn't look to be enough to overturn it. Go-ahead run in scoring position with nobody out. López is managing like he knows he's running out of arms.

RBI double by Suárez! Venezuela 3, USA 2. A huge swing by Venezuela's third-leading home run hitter, and it could mean a WBC championship.

Giménez flies out to left, and Suárez can't advance. Big first out for Whitlock, who hasn't looked sharp.

Pitching change: Tyler Rogers is coming in for Whitlock. He'll throw strikes out there for DeRosa, but he isn't a swing-and-miss guy. Could come into play with a runner on second and less than two out.

Tovar pops to second for the second out. Suárez took off for third on the play, but was able to make it back in time. USA is challenging whether he retouched third on his way back.

Ruling: call confirmed. Not much doubt about that when looking at live replays. That was USA's last challenge of the game either way.

With first base open, USA is giving Abreu first base to bring up Perez. Would be a huge moment if he provided the dagger.

Perez flies to left for the third out. Got under it and gave it a ride, but not enough of one.

Venezuela is three outs away from its first WBC title.

Bottom of 9th: USA vs. Daniel Palencia

Changes: Daniel Palencia is in for Machado, and Willson Contreras is in at first base for Sanoja. Palencia pitched last night, and a ninth-inning save situation is the only spot the Cubs agreed he could be used in.

Schwarber is down swinging for the first out. Had a 99 mph fastball blown by him.

Pinch hitter: Gunnar Henderson is in for Bregman. He tied the semifinal against the D.R. with a homer. This is his moment.

Or not. Henderson sees two pitches and pops the second one to third. Two outs.

Anthony strikes out swinging to end it. Palencia dialed it all the way up for 100 mph to get it past him. And there's your ballgame.

In the end, Team USA went 3-for-30 with 10 strikeouts. One of the greatest offenses ever assembled on paper simply was not that on paper.

Final Score: Venezuela 3, USA 2

8th Inning

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Bryce Harper

Venezuela 2, USA 0 at the start

Top of 8th: Venezuela vs. Griffin Jax

Pitching change: Griffin Jax is in for Vest. Jax pitched on Sunday against the Dominican Republic, so DeRosa is proving he's willing to double dip with that game's bullpen crew.

Chourio goes down swinging. He saw three sweepers and whiffed on two of them. That's what Jax can do to even good hitters.

Acuña grounds out to short for the second out. He has still made his presence felt in this game with a hit and a walk.

Garcia pops out to catcher behind the plate, and that's the frame. Just eight pitches for Jax.

If Team USA loses this game, it'll go into the books as one of the biggest wastes of great pitching of all time.

Bottom of 8th: USA vs. Andrés Machado 

Turang sees three pitches and fans to open the inning. Machado's changeup dies just when it's getting to the hitting zone.

Crow-Armstrong bounces one to second and can't beat the throw to first even with his speed. Two outs.

Witt draws a four-pitch walk, and here comes Harper as the tying run. He can redeem his whole WBC with one swing here. And add a bit to the legend while he's at it.

Two-run home run by Harper! Venezuela 2, USA 2. There's the big swing that Team USA was waiting for, and not a moment too soon. And it was crushed at 109.4 mph, landing 432 feet away.

Judge is called out on strikes to end the inning. That's his third of the game, and ABS wouldn't have saved him there.

It's a whole new ballgame heading into the ninth, courtesy of the second-biggest swing of Harper's life.

Venezuela 2, USA 2 heading into 9th

7th Inning

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Ezequiel Tovar

Venezuela 2, USA 0 at the start

Top of 7th: Venezuela vs. Will Vest

Pitching change: Will Vest is in for Keller. He quietly has a 144 ERA+ for Detroit over the last three seasons.

Torres is down swinging for the first out. A sinker and then three sliders for some Tiger on Tiger crime.

Tovar rips a single into left to start a one-out threat. That was 103.1 mph off the bat. What Rockies fans there still are out there get something to cheer for.

A check-swing grounder to third by Abreu is the second out, but Tovar was able to get to second.

Perez flies out to right, and that's the inning. Three sliders out of the zone to him. That scouting report hasn't been refreshed in a long time.

Nice inning for Vest, who joins the non-hitter members of Team USA doing their part in this tournament.

Bottom of 7th: USA vs. Angel Zerpa

Changes: Angel Zerpa is in for José Buttó, and Andrés Giménez is in for Torres at second. The left-handed Zerpa is set to face two lefties, and will prevent DeRosa from pinch-hitting Henderson for Bregman.

Schwarber goes down swinging for the first out. A perfectly placed 98.1 mph sinker on the outer edge there by Zerpa.

A groundout to third by Bregman, who's now 0-for-3 starting over Henderson.

A five-pitch walk for Anthony brings the tying run to the plate in Smith. He's been known to hit a big home run from time to time.

Pitching change: Andrés Machado is in for Zerpa. Omar López isn't messing around with a left-on-right matchup at this point.

Smith pops harmlessly to second to end the inning. He started his at-bat by whiffing on a pitch that hit him, which feels like a metaphor for his this game is going for USA's offense.

Altogether: 2-for-23 with two walks.

Venezuela 2, USA 0 heading into 8th

6th Inning

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Brad Keller

Venezuela 2, USA 0 at the start

Top of 6th: Venezuela vs. Brad Keller

Garcia starts it with a harmless fly to center for the first out. Still batting .400 for the tournament.

Arraez follows with his own flyout to center field. Hitting the ball in the air is not his thing, in case anyone didn't know.

A three-pitch strikeout by Suárez, who got caught looking at a sweeper.

Shoutout to Aram Leighton of Just Baseball, who notes that Team USA's pitchers have set a new WBC record for strikeouts.

Only seven pitches for Keller in the inning. DeRosa needs length in addition to zeroes, so maybe he gets another frame.

Bottom of 6th: USA vs. José Buttó

Changes: José Buttó is in for Eduard Bazardo for Venezuela, and Pete Crow-Armstrong is pinch-hitting for Byron Buxton for USA.

Crow-Armstrong is out on a lazy fly to left. He had a sinker at the bottom of the zone that was in the lefty wheelhouse, but missed the sweet spot.

Now a popout by Witt off first base in foul territory. Seemingly nothing but whimpering outs for Team USA in this game.

There's a single into right by Harper to put a runner on first with two outs. As cold as he's been, go figure that he's had some of the best swings of the night for Team USA.

Judge grounds out to third, and that's that. He looked at five pitches before he got a middle-middle slider and just plain couldn't get it.

That's a missed chance for Team USA. And not exactly helpful for the narrative of Judge being un-clutch.

Venezuela 2, USA 0 heading into 7th

5th Inning

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Wilyer Abreu

Venezuela 1, USA 0 at the start

Top of 5th: Venezuela vs. Nolan McLean

Solo home run by Abreu! 2-0 Venezuela. Another crush job at 106.1 mph and 414 feet to center field. The crowd at loanDepot park got very loud for that one.

Perez works a six-pitch at-bat, but flies out to center for the first out.

Chourio pops out to second for the second out, and that'll turn the lineup over for Venezuela.

Pitching change: Brad Keller is in for McLean. Good call by DeRosa. McLean was good, but not good enough to earn a third trip through the order.

Final line for McLean: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K. Had good stuff, but hurt himself with wildness and the home run ball.

Acuña grounds out to short to end it, but his speed made it interesting. Nice pick by Harper at first to secure the out.

The other winner of this half-inning? The Boston Red Sox, whose players are having a heck of a tournament.

Bottom of 5th: USA vs. Eduardo Rodriguez

Anthony grounds out to second to start the frame. Rodriguez pounded him on the outside edge and it worked.

Pitching change: Eduard Bazardo is in for Rodriguez. Bazardo also pitched on Monday, so his leash may be short if he can't get through the 7-8-9 hitters.

Final line for Rodriguez: 4.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K. He was extremely efficient and didn't make mistakes with his 52 pitches.

Bazardo gets Smith looking at a sweeper. It's a nasty pitch by one of the more underrated relievers in MLB.

Turang is out on a ground ball to second, and that's the inning for Team USA.

The Americans have a hit and a walk in this game, and two runs total in 14 innings since Sunday.

Venezuela 2, USA 0 heading into 6th

4th Inning

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Bryce Harper

Venezuela 1, USA 0 at the start

Top of 4th: Venezuela vs. Nolan McLean

Weak ground ball by Suárez to second base for the first out. He was in some pain after he fouled a 3-2 fastball off himself.

Torres goes down looking at a sinker that was nasty, but off the corner. The lack of ABS in the WBC continues to be a lingering nuisance.

Tovar pops out to first to end the inning. Easy play for Harper.

Nice bounceback inning for McLean, who dug his own grave a bit with his wild pitch in the third.

Bottom of 4th: USA vs. Eduardo Rodriguez

Another out for Harper on a grounder to second. At least he made good contact at 102.5 mph. Baby steps for the two-time MVP.

Judge fans on a check swing. Try as he could, he couldn't lay off a wonderfully placed changeup below the zone.

Schwarber works a four-pitch walk to get on first with two out. Maybe Rodriguez felt like he needed a challenge.

Bregman ends the inning on a fielder's choice to second. Nothing for Team USA.

Eduard Bazardo was warming at the end of the inning, but it'll be hard to take Rodriguez out unless he gets in trouble. Only at 51 pitches.

Venezuela 1, USA 0 heading into 5th

3rd Inning

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Salvador Perez

0-0 at the start

Venezuela vs. Nolan McLean

Salvador Perez leads off with a single past Harper at first base. Only 71.6 mph off the bat. Location, location, location.

Jackson Chourio missed a sweeper by about a mile for strike three. Venezuela hitters have to protect against a 98.4 mph fastball, but hard to defend against McLean's breaker.

Acuña works McLean for seven pitches and draws a walk. Two on and one out, with the meat of the lineup coming.

McLean's fourth pitch to Garcia goes to the backstop, allowing both runners to advance.

Sac fly for Garcia. 1-0 Venezuela. He did a good job of hanging in there against the sweeper and getting it in the air.

Arraez grounds out to second to end the frame.

That inning is what this Venezuela offense has done so well in this tournament. Getting runners on and getting them in, which is not easy to do against the best pitching in the world.

Bottom of 3rd: Venezuela vs. Eduardo Rodriguez

Will Smith pops out to left to start. He's in there over Cal Raleigh, who has no hits in the tournament after popping 60 homers in 2025.

Brice Turang finally gets the USA a baserunner with a ground-ball single to right. He's now batting .400 in the WBC.

Byron Buxton goes down swinging for the second out. He chased a changeup and is still hitless for the tournament.

Witt ends the threat by flying out to center. At least he hit it hard, clocking at 103 mph off the bat.

The Team USA offense is doing that thing where it goes weirdly quiet. Remember, only two runs against the Dominican Republic in the semifinals.

Venezuela 1, USA 0 heading into 4th

2nd Inning

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Eduardo Rodriguez

0-0 at the start

Top of 2nd: Venezuela vs. Nolan McLean

McLean gets Eugenio Suárez swinging at a sweeper for the first out. It's a nasty pitch, and it's not even as nasty as his curveball.

There's the curve to punch out Gleyber Torres looking. As the broadcast mentioned, the movement on that pitch is unmatched.

A two-out single by Ezequiel Tovar puts a runner at first. He had to reach for the sweeper off the edge there.

Wilyer Abreu, the hero of the Japan game, pops out to short to end it.

18 pitches for McLean so far, and 14 strikes. You love to see it if you're Mark DeRosa.

Bottom of 2nd: USA vs. Eduardo Rodriguez

Kyle Schwarber goes down swinging at a fastball. Rodriguez is only 92-93 mph, but his fastball has always played up.

Alex Bregman poked a soft grounder to first for an easy play by Arraez. Him starting over Gunnar Henderson didn't get any less controversial there.

Another soft grounder, this time by Roman Anthony back to Rodriguez for the last out.

Six up, six down for Rodriguez on 23 pitches. He's gotten some ugly swings from USA hitters in the process.

0-0 heading to 3rd

1st Inning

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Nolan McLean

0-0 at the start

Top of 1st: Venezuela vs. Nolan McLean

Ronald Acuña Jr. singled on the first pitch. He crushed it at 108.4 mph off the bat, and the crowd noise suggests a Venezuela-friendly audience in Miami.

Two pitches later, McLean gets Maikel Garcia to ground into a 5-4-3 double play. That'll do for a quick momentum swing.

A weak fly to center by Luis Arraez ends the inning with no damage.

Only five pitches for McLean, and that's huge. With his bullpen short on fresh arms, Mark DeRosa needs length from the young righty.

Bottom of 1st: USA vs. Eduardo Rodriguez

Another first-pitch swing, this time from Bobby Witt Jr. on a flyout to center. Adrenaline seems to be pumping for the hitters.

A weak pop into left by Bryce Harper gets Rodriguez the second out. Harper reached for a cutter. He still looks very far from locked-in, batting .160 for the tournament.

Rodriguez rings up Aaron Judge looking for the third out. A cutter that looked off the corner, but a beautiful pitch.

And yes, we've seen worse in this WBC.

0-0 heading to 2nd

Lineups and Keys to the Game

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Ronald Acuña Jr.

USA's Lineup

1. SS Bobby Witt Jr.

2. 1B Bryce Harper

3. RF Aaron Judge

4. DH Kyle Schwarber

5. 3B Alex Bregman

6. LF Roman Anthony

7. C Will Smith

8. 2B Brice Turang

9. CF Byron Buxton

Starting Pitcher: RHP Nolan McLean

Venezuela's Lineup

1. RF Ronald Acuña Jr.

2. 3B Maikel Garcia

3. 1B Luis Arraez

4. DH Eugenio Suárez 

5. 2B Gleyber Torres

6. SS Ezequiel Tovar

7. LF Wilyer Abreu

8. C Salvador Perez

9. CF Jackson Chourio

Starting Pitcher: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez

Key for the USA: Mark DeRosa Navigates a Depleted Bullpen

The bullpen was Team USA's MVP in its thrilling 2-1 win over the Dominican Republic in the semifinals, but the bill may be about to come due.

Manager Mark DeRosa called on five different relievers, including David Bednar in the seventh and Mason Miller in the ninth. Both threw more than their share of high-stress pitches, so their availability for the Final is in question.

Bednar is likely out, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Katie Woo of The Athletic reports that Miller is available, but DeRosa says he'd "like to avoid him."

The pressure is very much on McLean to last longer than he did against Italy in pool play. The young righty only gave DeRosa 3.0 innings, in which he was taken deep twice and allowed three runs in an eventual 8-6 loss.

Key for Venezuela: Don't Miss Those Chances

If Venezuela is going to succeed where the Dominican Republic failed, it simply can't repeat what D.R. did vs. Team USA in the semifinals.

The bad third strike call against Geraldo Perdomo was the final nail, but what really buried the D.R. was missed opportunities. They made several mistakes on the basepaths and couldn't convert with runners in scoring position.

The latter, at least, has been Venezuela's main offensive strength in the WBC. They have 18 hits with runners in scoring position to top all teams.

Beyond that, the hope is that Team USA's offense remains relatively quiet. It has more talent than Venezuela's offense, but only a 50-point OPS edge for the tournament.