USA had its chance to win World Baseball Classic. In the end, it couldn’t get it done
The United States could have seized the moment. Bryce Harper just had what could have been — should have been? — a momentous swing, belting a game-tying two-run home run to tie Venezuela in the eighth inning of the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday night. The star first baseman on a team filled with stars tossed his bat into the air and made his way around the bases, saluting as he got to third base.
“Big moment,” United States manager Mark DeRosa said.
Until... it wasn’t.
Venezuela, which had held the United States in check all night outside of that Harper swing, retook the lead in the top of the ninth and once again quieted the US’ bats to seal the 3-2 win — Venezuela’s first in six World Baseball Classics.
The United States settled for silver for a second consecutive tournament after losing to Japan by an identical score three years earlier.
“Ultimately it’s who gets hot at the right time, who gets a big swing,” DeRosa said. “It just seemed like we couldn’t get the offense going the entire tournament. ... For what whatever reason, we just couldn’t get it rolling offensively.”
Venezuela held the United States — with a starting lineup that had a combined 28 All-Star nods, 14 Silver Slugger awards and five MVP honors amongst its starting lineup on Tuesday — to just three hits and two walks. Outside of Harper’s home run, no one ever made it past first base.
Aaron Judge went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts, two of which ended innings.
Kyle Schwarber was 0 for 3 with three strikeouts and a walk.
Bobby Witt Jr. was 0 for 3 with a walk.
“Surprised because of the names at the back of the jersey,” DeRosa said about the United States’ poor offensive showing, “but not surprised because of where they’re at in spring training. Yeah, that’s my answer. I really don’t have a rhyme or reason to why. I just think you’re either hot or not in a seven-game blast like this.”
Harper was the only one who rose to the occasion. His got all of a middle-middle changeup from Andres Machado and blasted it 432 feet to straightaway center field. It gave the United States life, temporary hope that the comeback could be completed.
Until that moment fleeted away.
“Yeah, it hurts,” DeRosa said. “We shared a special moment in my office after the game. We go back a long way. I’ve watched him grow up in the game. A lot of conversations. I knew what his career was kind of going to be like with the multiple MVPs and how he’s competed. I was just proud he was a part of the team really just to get to spend two-and-a-half weeks, share a clubhouse with him again.”
And DeRosa knows the United States will eventually break through to win another World Baseball Classic title. The Americans won the tournament once, back in 2017. They’ve been in the final in each tournament since but hasn’t gotten that second championship.
The rise in interest for the tournament in the United States — something DeRosa says is a credit to the passion shown by the Latin American countries and Japan when they participate — only inspires him that much more to see it through the next time the tournament is held.
“I’d love to get over the finish line,” DeRosa said. “Not only is it two times [losing in the final] but 3-2 both times. Why? If you saw how hurting the guys are in that locker room, you’d know why. For some reason, this WBC has become a tidal wave of emotion for a lot of guys. You get them in the room representing their country, coming together for two-and-a-half weeks, the buy-in. It’s infectious in there.
“So yes, a special group to be a part of. I’m proud of the way we represented U.S. A soft spot in my heart for Venezuela as well. I played there in winter ball. I know a lot of guys from there. And [Venezuela manager] Omar [Lopez is] a great man, the manager over there. So yeah, just a great game.”
This story was originally published March 18, 2026 at 1:22 AM.
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