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The USA fell in the World Baseball Classic in a thriller Tuesday night in Miami, with their All-Star closer keeping a seat warm in the bullpen.
Mason Miller did not feature in the championship game against Venezuela after earning saves against Canada and the Dominican Republic in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively, on Friday and Sunday.
After Bryce Harper homered in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game at two, it set up a perfect scenario for a closer to enter the game in the ninth, as typically closers pitch in tied games like the home team in the top of the ninth.
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Mason Miller of Team USA shakes hands with manager Mark DeRosa after receiving this silver medal following the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team USA at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami, Florida. (Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Instead, Mark DeRosa singled off Boston Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock, who gave up the winning run.
DeRosa, who said before the game Miller was available, revealed that Miller’s availability was only under one condition.
“To honor [San Diego] Padres,” DeRosa said, suggesting the Padres told DeRosa that Miller could only be used in a save situation. “Had we taken the lead, he would have come in, but I wasn’t going to bring him into a tie game.”
Mason Miller of Team United States pitches in the ninth inning against Team Dominican Republic during the ninth inning at loanDepot Park on March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Gene Wang/Capture At Media/Getty Images)
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Of course, a save was never going to happen once the USA entered the ninth inning with no lead. Thus Miller was ultimately never made available.
Contrary to apparent popular belief, the United States was not the only team in the WBC to abide by restrictions set by MLB clubs. The FOX broadcast mentioned how Venezuela manager Omar Lopez spoke by phone with MLB team officials the morning of the championship about rules for specific pitchers.
For example, the Detroit Tigers would not allow reliever Enmanuel De Jesus to pitch Tuesday under any circumstances, while the Chicago Cubs said Daniel Palencia, like Miller, was only allowed to pitch in a save situation.
The Venezuela team celebrates after defeating Italy at a World Baseball Classic semifinal game in Miami, Florida on March 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
There was pregame speculation that New York Yankees closer David Bednar was completely unavailable for Team USA on Tuesday after also pitching on Friday and Sunday.
Eugenio Suarez’s RBI double gave Venezuela its first World Baseball Classic title in the event’s short history, which began in 2006. For the United States, it was its second straight loss in the title game after winning it all in 2017.
