Team USA failed to bring home gold again.
Three years after losing to Japan, 3-2, in the final game of the World Baseball Classic, Team USA lost by the same score again—this time to Venezuela in Tuesday night’s championship game held at LoanDepot Park.
In six World Baseball Classics, Team USA has won gold just once (2017) and has finished as runner-up twice (2023, 2026).
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Venezuela had at least one batter get on base in each of the first three innings.
Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. got a leadoff single in the first, and Ezequiel Tovar reached on a single in the second. But in both innings, Team USA’s Nolan McLean got out of the jam each time. That wasn’t the case in the third.
Salvador Perez led off with a single, and then two batters later, Acuna Jr. drew a walk. McLean threw a wild pitch that let Perez and Acuna advance to second and third. A sacrifice fly by Kansas City Royals star Maikel Garcia allowed Perez to score.
Team USA got their first hit-base runner in the bottom of the third when Brice Turang hit a one-out single into right field. Venezuela’s Eduardo Rodriguez responded by getting Byron Buxton to strike out and Bobby Witt Jr. to fly out.
Venezuela extended its lead in the fourth as Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilver Abreu blasted a pitch from the New York Mets young pitcher and lifted it over the centerfield wall.
That proved to be enough run support for Arizona Diamondbacks ace Rodriguez, who gave up zero runs on one hit, struck out four in four and one-third innings of work.
Team USA finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the eighth.
Witt Jr. managed to draw a two-out walk, and then Bryce Harper took Andres Machado deep over the centerfield wall.
The celebration proved to be short-lived as Venezuela reclaimed the lead in the top of the ninth. Garrett Whitlock walked Luis Arraez and then gave up a double to Eugenio Suarez that scored the go-ahead run.
Team USA was unable to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth as Kyle Schwarber struck out, Gunnar Henderson popped up, and Roman Anthony struck out to end the game.
BIG NUMBER I: 12
Team USA went 12 straight innings in the semifinals and finals of the WBC. The vaunted lineup of All-Stars and MVPs didn’t plate a run in the final five innings of the semifinal win over the Dominican Republic, and the first seven innings of Tuesday night’s championship game.
BIG NUMBER II: 82 (7)
With recording seven strikeouts in Tuesday night’s game, Team USA set a new World Baseball Classic record for most strikeouts in one WBC. Japan held the previous record of 80 set in 2023.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: BRYCE HARPER
With Team USA struggling at the plate, it was the Philadelphia Phillies slugger who gave the team its biggest moment with a two-run home run in the eighth. Harper went 2-for-4 in the game.