Venezuela defeats USA for their first-ever World Baseball Classic championship

By
D.J. Short
Published March 17, 2026 10:54 PM
10:54 p.m. ET: Venezuela are the winners of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

After grabbing a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth, Daniel Palencia sat the Team USA offense down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the frame (including two strikeouts) to give Venezuela their first World Baseball Classic championship.