Pablo Cuerta was watching batting practice before the US-Venezuela championship game at the World Baseball Classic, when the realization hit him — he could not lose.
There were thousands of Venezuelans at the game in Miami on Tuesday night. There were thousands of Americans, too, and some — like Cuerta, a Venezuelan American — got to basically cheer for both sides. His shirt: a Venezuela jersey. His hat: the Venezuelan team cap. Draped over his shoulders and tied across his chest: the US flag.
“I was born in Venezuela, and this country gave me the opportunity to come, to be a citizen,” said Cuerta, who drove from his home near Orlando, Florida, for the final days of the tournament in Miami. “I appreciate both countries, you know. One, I was born in Venezuela, and two, this one gave me everything I’ve got. So, I’m proud to have both countries.”
Photo: AP
Venezuela won 3-2, taking the WBC title for the first time. When the game ended, LoanDepot Park became one giant, deafening roar. Venezuela might have been the visiting country, and the visiting team on the scoreboard, but a Latin-flavored crowd in Miami sure made the new champions feel right at home.
As they have throughout the WBC, Venezuelan fans showed up in a big way to see their team in Miami; all seven of Venezuela’s games at the WBC were played inside the Miami Marlins’ ballpark.
From the outset, these unusual political times — deposed Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro is jailed in New York and facing drug trafficking charges, after US forces executed a military operation in Venezuela earlier this year to capture him — have not had much of an effect on the joy Venezuelans have for this event, even with it being played on US soil.
Photo: AFP
When both flags were brought to home plate as part of the pregame ceremony, the building seemed to shake with noise.
“Super emotional with Venezuela and being here for the championship game. This is beyond sport. It is well deserved,” said Argenis Masiaf, a Miami resident who had the Venezuelan flag painted on his face for the game. “We have lived through many difficult things inside our country. This is the moment for Venezuela to accomplish something so special and memorable.”
Venezuela manager Omar Lopez acknowledged how much the WBC has meant to the baseball-mad South American country.
“Together we are going to have better generations for our country, united with no color, political colors or ideology,” Lopez said. “We have people with double citizenship... Baseball is one of the best tools or ways to educate a country. Discipline, dedication, determination. If you don’t believe in that, you should start believing. You have to believe in that. Thirty human beings today are going to unite Venezuela through a baseball game.”
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