Eugenio Suárez couldn’t help but be emotional while celebrating Venezuela’s World Baseball Classic title.
The Mariners third baseman had driven in the go-ahead run with his ninth-inning double that led to the 3-2 victory for Venezuela over the United States at loanDepot park on Tuesday night in Miami, and as Suárez spoke with Fox’s Ken Rosenthal, the emotions poured out.
“Nobody believed in Venezuela, but now we won the championship today!” he exclaimed. “It’s a celebration for all of the Venezuela [people].”
The Venezuelans made it out of a pool with the Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Israel and Nicaragua before defeating Japan in the quarterfinals.
They took down a red-hot Italian team before claiming the country’s first World Baseball Classic crown with their win over the U.S. on Tuesday.
Suárez said the “union” between players is what made the Venezuelans’ run so special.
“We are together the whole time. We’re not just teammates, we are family,” he said. “This team is awesome. We are family here. That’s why we play with passion, with love, because we feel that jersey. We feel our country on the front of us. That’s why this is a lot for us as players, as people, as a human being and as Venezuelan. We are now the champions.”
Venezuela took a 2-0 lead early in the game after Maikel Garcia hit a sacrifice fly in the third inning and Wilyer Abreau hit a solo home run in the fifth.
Bryce Harper briefly tied the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with Bobby Witt Jr. on base when the Phillies star hit a long two-run homer to center field.
It also marked the second consecutive WBC the United States had found itself the runner-up after Japan defeated the Americans in the championship game in 2023.
