Bryce Harper’s late home run not enough as USA falls to Venezuela in World Baseball Classic Final
Bryce Harper stepped to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning of Tuesday’s World Baseball Classic championship game having left a lot to be desired. Team USA’s first baseman entered the contest against Team Venezuela 4-for-24 with one double, one RBI and no signature moment. But “The Showman” finally showed up when it mattered most.
With USA down 2-0, Harper went to bat after Venezuelan reliever Andrés Machado issued a two-out walk to Bobby Witt Jr. After taking a first-pitch changeup for a ball, Harper didn’t miss a second-pitch changeup in the zone; he launched it beyond the center-field wall for a game-tying home run. Harper soaked the moment in as he slowly circled the bases.
The home run was Harper’s second hit of the night; he singled in the sixth. It was for naught. The Venezuelans retook the lead in the top of the ninth on an RBI double by Eugenio Suarez. Javier Sanoja — a pinch-runner who stole second base after a leadoff walk by Luis Arraez — scored on Suarez’s hit.
Venezuela’s 3-2 win gives the country its first World Baseball Classic title. USA’s loss marks its second straight tournament finish as runner-up.
Harper finished the WBC 6-for-28 with a double, a home run, three RBIs and five runs. Kyle Schwarber, who struck out to start the bottom of the ninth, had a decent showing; he went 8-for-31 in the tournament with a home run, three RBIs and six runs.
Brad Keller also played for USA on Tuesday. He pitched 1 1/3 innings without allowing a baserunner against the top four hitters in Venezuela’s lineup. Keller’s WBC final line included four appearances and four runs (two earned).
Harper, Schwarber and Keller will now return to the Phillies ahead of the final six games of the team’s spring schedule before they open their season next week at home against the Texas Rangers.