Much of the attention in this World Baseball Classic Final centered on the young New York Mets prospect Nolan McLean, who once again struggled in the competition and left the game in jeopardy after surrendering two runs. This situation led hundreds of fans to point fingers at the 24-year-old, although the reality is that Team USA offense failed to provide any run support.
Was Nolan McLean’s start really that bad?
The right-hander finished with four strikeouts, one walk, four hits allowed, and two earned runs over 4.2 innings on 63 pitches. Early on, his repertoire looked sharp, but Team Venezuela lineup eventually capitalized.
This marked McLean’s second outing in the WBC 2026, following his start against Italy where the U.S. suffered a surprising loss. In that game, he allowed three earned runs, including two home runs.
A sacrifice fly allowed Salvador Pérez to open the scoring, and in the fifth inning, Wilyer Abreu home run extended Venezuela’s lead, prompting manager Mark DeRosa to pull the pitcher.
The United States responded late with a Bryce Harper home run in the eighth inning to tie the game, but it wasn’t enough. In the ninth, Eugenio Suárez delivered a clutch RBI double to bring Javier Sanoja home and seal the win.
Many fans criticized McLean’s performance, but the truth is that Team USA bats struggled all night. When the offense finally responded, Venezuela answered immediately to avoid extra innings.
A disappointing ending for Team USA, but a historic and deserved victory for Team Venezuela in what was an unforgettable World Baseball Classic 2026 Final.
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