Team USA concluded its 2026 World Baseball Classic without a gold medal to show. The Americans were stunned by Venezuela on Tuesday at loanDepot park in Miami, Fla., to the tune of a 3-2 score.
Offense was hard to come by for Team USA, as it was not until the eighth inning that it scored, courtesy of a two-run blast by Bryce Harper. Before that, Venezuela held a 2-0 lead after starting pitcher Nolan McLean allowed two earned runs on four hits through 4 2/3 innings of work.
Although his clutch home run ultimately went for naught, Harper showed class after the game by congratulating Venezuela players on the field.
The two-time National League Most Valuable Player also expressed appreciation for McLean despite the pitcher’s shaky outing on the mound.
“Whenever you get down 2-0, it’s tough, but I thought Mac threw the ball great,” Harper said, via SportsNet New York.
“He’s a special talent. He’s going to be a special talent for a long time. We’ve got a lot of great young guys in there that are going to play again on this team.”
The loss to Venezuela surely left a bitter taste in the mouths of Team USA players, and it will take time before that goes away.
Getting props from someone like Harper even after a tough night seems like a decent consolation for McLean, who will see more of the slugger in the 2026 MLB regular season, as they both play in the NL East.
