WBC 2026: Arraez's Two Homers Set Classic Mark in Venezuela's Romp Over Israel

Venezuela improved to 2-0 in the 2026 World Baseball Classic by beating Israel 11-3 in Pool D on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at loanDepot Park in Miami. Luis Arraez (Giants)—the three-time batting champ with only 36 career MLB homers—belted two home runs and went 4-for-5 with two doubles, five RBIs, and four runs, becoming the first player in WBC history to have two career multi-homer games in the tournament. Willson Contreras said of his teammate: "Arraez is a great player. He was born, I would say, in the wrong time, but it's true: Luis Arraez is a great hitter." Manager Omar López said Arraez "can change the game with one swing" and that "he's the type of guy that is going to show up" in this event.

Eugenio Suárez hit a towering homer that hit the facing of the left-field bleachers in a four-run first; Ronald Acuña Jr. doubled and scored on an Arraez double, Salvador Perez added an RBI single, and Suárez's blast knocked Israel starter Ben Simon out. Enmanuel De Jesus retired the first 14 batters and set a Venezuela WBC record with eight strikeouts in five innings of one-run ball. Israel got on the board in the fifth on Garrett Stubbs' triple and Matt Mervis' RBI infield single; RJ Schreck and Arraez traded solo shots before Venezuela busted out for five runs in the sixth—Arraez's three-run homer off Rob Kaminsky was the big blow, giving him four career WBC homers (second behind Miguel Cabrera's six for Venezuela). Israel manager Brad Ausmus said: "It was kind of the Luis Arraez show today." The top two teams from Pool D advance to the quarterfinals in Houston (March 13–14). Venezuela faces Nicaragua Monday 7 p.m. ET (FS2); Israel faces Nicaragua Sunday 7 p.m. ET (Tubi).

How the game unfolded

Venezuela's big first inning set the tone. Arraez's double scored Acuña; Perez and Suárez made it 4-0. Ausmus said "the big first inning hurt us a ton" and that if they could have gotten out with two runs they would have felt in the fight. Israel's bullpen—Charlie Beilenson and Jordan Geber—kept Venezuela off the board through the fourth, but De Jesus was dominant.

Stubbs' two-out triple in the fifth gave Israel its first baserunner; Mervis ended the shutout. De Jesus finished with five innings and eight strikeouts and called it "an unforgettable experience." Arraez's solo shot and Schreck's homer kept Israel within three until the sixth, when Venezuela's five-run outburst—capped by Arraez's three-run blast off Kaminsky—put the game away. Suárez said: "Luis represents a lot to us in the lineup. We know that he's a great hitter, and to see his achievements is something very special." Through two WBC games Arraez is 5-for-8 with two homers, two doubles, five runs, and seven RBIs.

Pool D context and what's next

Pool D at loanDepot Park in Miami is one of the toughest groups in the 2026 WBC. Venezuela and the Dominican Republic are both top contenders; the Netherlands, Israel, and Nicaragua round out the pool. Venezuela's 2-0 start puts them in strong position. Pool play runs through March 11; every game will shape who advances to Houston.

Names to watch for AthX

Luis Arraez (Giants) is the headline: two homers, five RBIs, and the first player with two multi-homer games in WBC history. Ronald Acuña Jr. (Braves), Willson Contreras (Cardinals), Eugenio Suárez, Salvador Perez, and Enmanuel De Jesus also starred. Israel has Garrett Stubbs, Matt Mervis, and RJ Schreck. WBC performance does not affect dynamic pricing—AthX prices are driven by MLB performance—but a strong tournament can boost narrative and demand before Opening Day.

What It Means for AthX

WBC stats don't count in dynamic pricing; AthX share prices are based on MLB playing time and results. Still, WBC results can shape narrative and demand for players like Arraez and Venezuela's star-packed roster. Use the WBC as a lead-in to see who's in form, then browse the marketplace to see how MLB players are valued on AthX.

*Sources: MLB.com – Arraez's surprise pop (2 HRs!) sets Classic mark in Venezuela's romp over Israel; official WBC Pool D results. Fact-checked March 7, 2026.*