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Red Sox’ Carlos Narváez: ‘I cried with them’
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- Red Sox’ Carlos Narváez: ‘I cried with them’
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez couldn’t hold back his emotions after seeing his native country, Venezuela, win the World Baseball Classic.
“I cried with them watching the TV,” Narváez said Wednesday at JetBlue Park. “I know how big it is for our country. I’m so proud of all the boys.”
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Venezuela beat the United States 3-2 on Tuesday at Miami Marlins ’ LoanDepot Park.
“They’re heroes, man. That’s the reality,” Narváez said.
Narváez was wearing a Venezuelan team hat that he got when he went to Miami to see Venezuela play the Dominican Republic in the final game of pool play.
“I got chills,” Narváez said.
He said he feels especially proud of his teammates Wilyer Abreu , Willson Contreras and Ranger Suárez . He also mentioned he feels bad for Red Sox teammates Garrett Whitlock and Roman Anthony , who were on the United States team.
He said it meant a lot to Venezuela considering all the country has been through recently.
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In January, U.S. forces captured President Nicolás Maduro , whose repressive government had long denied Venezuelans their democracy .
“I think that’s why you see those emotions from those players,” Narváez said. “Like getting the anthem in that moment, you can see crying. It is a lot, bro. Our country is a beautiful one. We got really beautiful people.”
He enjoyed watching videos of Venezuelans celebrate back home.
“Packing the streets at night, like 2 a.m., just enjoying and partying, that’s (what) it’s all about,” he said. “Of course, the tournament, WBC, you want to win, the team, but it goes a long way more than that.”
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Red Sox manager Alex Cora also felt good for the people of Venezuela and enjoyed seeing Instagram videos of them celebrating.
“To pull this off is amazing,” Cora said.
Narváez called Venezuela “a baseball country.”
“We always knew and people knew that Venezuela has good baseball but now it’s, ‘OK. They have really good baseball. They’re champions.’”
Narváez said he hopes to play for Venezuela in the WBC someday. Nine-time All-Star Salvador Perez was behind the plate in the tournament.
“I know that time will come, hopefully in the next one. But more than happy right now, like, they’re the champions. I’m (a) champion because I’m from Venezuela too. So that’s what it’s all about.”
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Former Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez started for Venezuela in the title game. He pitched 4 ⅓ scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out four.
“It’s a team that little by little they kept growing as a group, which was a cool thing,” Cora said. “They did some amazing things. Veterans and young guys. They were the best team in the tournament.
“That bullpen was amazing,” Cora added. “Eduardo was vintage Eduardo. I think it was like four pitches in the heart of the plate. That’s it. He dominated, and they did a good job. They deserved it.”
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