Venezuela just pulled off one of the biggest upsets in international baseball, defeating the United States 3-2 in the World Baseball Classic championship game on Tuesday night in Miami. In a nail-biting ninth-inning finish, Eugenio Suárez delivered a clutch double that sent the stadium into absolute chaos and gave Venezuela its first-ever WBC title.

The Venezuelan squad came out swinging, building a commanding 2-0 lead by the fifth inning. Maikel Garcia’s sacrifice fly in the third and Wilyer Abreu’s 414-foot home run in the fifth had the pro-Latin America crowd at loanDepot park going wild. Pitcher Eduardo Rodríguez and the Venezuelan bullpen were absolutely dominant, limiting the heavily favored American roster to just two hits through seven innings.

But here’s where things got dramatic. In the eighth inning, Bryce Harper crushed a two-run homer off reliever Andrés Machado to tie the game at 2-2. The energy completely shifted, and it looked like Team USA’s star-studded lineup, featuring Aaron Judge, Harper, and other MLB superstars, was about to complete their comeback.

Then the ninth inning happened. Luis Arraez walked to start things off, and pinch-runner Javier Sanoja stole second base. When Suárez stepped up to the plate, he came through in the biggest moment, smacking a double into the left-center gap that brought Sanoja home with the winning run. Suárez spread his arms wide at second base while Venezuelan players streamed out of the dugout to celebrate. Relief pitcher Daniel Palencia shut down the Americans in the bottom of the ninth to seal the victory.

This championship is massive for Venezuela, a nation where baseball runs through people’s veins. Despite not having the same international recognition as powerhouses like Japan or the Dominican Republic, Venezuela has serious baseball talent. Over 60 Venezuelan-born players made MLB opening day rosters last year, proving the country’s deep baseball roots.

Garcia was named tournament MVP after batting .385 with seven RBIs throughout the competition. Meanwhile, despite Judge, Harper, and the American roster’s impressive names, the U.S. struggled offensively and fell flat when it mattered most. Judge went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the championship game alone.

Back in Caracas, Venezuelan fans celebrated in the streets, singing their national anthem “Gloria al Bravo Pueblo” (Glory to the Brave People) as car horns honked in celebration. For a country dealing with serious political and economic challenges, this championship felt like more than just a sports victory. Suárez said it best: “This is a celebration for all the Venezuelan country”.