By Kyle Feldscher, CNN
(CNN) — Venezuela held off a star-powered Team USA offense to win the nation’s first World Baseball Classic on Tuesday to end a thrilling edition of the international baseball showcase with a worthy final.
The Venezuelan win represents a moment of catharsis for a nation that has been racked by political upheaval, economic uncertainty, isolation on the world stage and increasingly emigration to other nations in the Western Hemisphere. It was evident for all to hear in Miami as the heavily Venezuelan crowd made ear-splitting levels of noise throughout the game, even when it appeared that the big bats in the American lineup were starting to wake up.
The Venezuelans got started with a sacrifice fly in the third inning from Maikel Garcia and then a home run from Wilyer Abreu in the fifth that gave their team a 2-0 lead. That held up until the bottom of the eighth when Bryce Harper blasted a two-run home run deep into right center field to tie the game.
But it didn’t take long for Venezuela to regain the initiative. The ninth inning started off with American pitcher Garrett Whitlock walking the leadoff batter Luis Arraez, giving the Venezuelans an opening. Javier Sanoja stole second base, only just beating the throw from American catcher Will Smith and Venezuela had a man in scoring position with no outs in the inning.
Seattle Mariners star Eugenio Suarez made the Americans pay, ripping a double to left center field and driving in Sanoja to give Venezuela a 3-2 lead.
Venezuelan closer Daniel Palencia came on in the bottom of the ninth to lock down the title. He struck out Harper’s Phillies teammate Kyle Schwarber to start the inning and then Baltimore Orioles star Gunnar Henderson popped up for the second out. With Team USA’s back against the wall, it was up to Roman Anthony of the Boston Red Sox to keep the game going.
Palencia got him to strike out to seal the title.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
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