Cuba is next up for Puerto Rico after thrilling extra-inning win over Panama.
- The San Juan Daily Star
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
By THE STAR STAFF
A walk-off home run by Darell Hernaiz in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted Team Puerto Rico over Panama, 4-3, in Saturday’s second game in Group A of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Hato Rey.
With the score 3-2 in favor of Panama, Heliot Ramos started at second base due to the tiebreaker rule. He advanced to third on an infield single by Luis Vázquez and then scored the tying run on a double play groundout by Carlos Cortés.
Then, with two outs and a 1-2 count, Hernaiz launched a home run over the left-field fence off reliever Severino González to seal the win for Puerto Rico.
Reliever José Espada earned the win after pitching two innings in relief, while González took the loss.
Puerto Rico (2-0) faces Cuba today at 7 p.m. at Hiram Bithorn Stadium.
Saturday’s game was dramatic from start to finish. Panama opened the scoring with two runs in the fifth inning on doubles by Christian Bethancourt and Luis Castillo.
Puerto Rico got on the board in the sixth inning with a sacrifice fly by Nolan Arenado that brought in Bryan Torres from third.
Team Puerto Rico tied the game at 2-2 in the ninth inning when Willi Castro drew a bases-loaded walk.
In the top of the 10th inning, Panama regained a 3-2 lead with an RBI single by José Caballero.
In addition to Espada, Eduardo Rivera, Jorge López, Ricardo Vélez and Luis Quiñones pitched for Puerto Rico.
Team Puerto Rico defeated Colombia 5-0 in its opening game in the pool play round on Friday night with the help of seven pitchers: Seth Lugo, Rico García, Jovani Morán, Yacksel Ríos, Ángel Reyes, Fernando Cruz and Edwin “Sugar” Díaz.
Whatever emotions the Dominican players had surrounding the loss dissipated, at least for the moment. Nelson Cruz stood frozen with his mouth agape in the opposing dugout. Manny Machado leaned on the dugout rail, speechless, while Juan Soto looked on from the on-deck circle. The team watched while Díaz was loaded into a wheelchair. Nobody left the field.
Teoscar Hernández’s locker sits just a few lockers away from Díaz’s at the Dodgers’ spring complex. He remembers being on the wrong end of the game-deciding strikeout, and that it took him a beat to realize Díaz was seriously hurt.
“It was a really sad moment for baseball, and for the WBC,” he said.
Neither Kiké Hernández (elbow surgery) nor Teoscar Hernández (offseason recovery) are playing in this year’s WBC. But they know the significance of representing your country, and the rarity of being able to play at home. Kiké Hernández gets chills talking about it.
“He’s risking a lot by playing in the tournament, especially given what happened in the previous one,” Kiké Hernández said. “But as a fellow Puerto Rican, those games just mean so much to us, being able to wear that uniform.
“I wasn’t surprised, because it was a freak injury, that he was willing to do it all over again.”
Díaz knows he will face scrutiny for his decision; he doesn’t care.
“I have only one response for that,” he said. “I didn’t get hurt pitching. It was after the game. That could have happened to me anywhere. If I got hurt pitching, it’s different. But I was just trying to celebrate.”
Puerto Rico has not hosted the World Baseball Classic since 2013, when it finished as a runner-up to the Dominican Republic. Puerto Rico advanced to the championship round again in 2017, but fell to the United States in the gold medal game.
Its roster lacks its usual star power — Lindor, Báez and Carlos Correa were not granted clearance to play; Lindor and Correa because of insurance, Báez because of a marijuana suspension. Catcher Martín Maldonado, who announced his retirement from MLB after 15 seasons, is the captain this year, and the WBC will represent his final time on the field as a player.
Maldonado and Díaz will be the veteran presences on a younger roster. It’s a role Díaz welcomes, and one of the many things he will try to soak in as he plays on home soil for the first time in his nine-year career.
“I want to help everybody,” he said. “We need to treat every player the same, even though we have a lot of great players in that clubhouse. If some of the young kids need something from me, I will try to help them and make them better.”
Above all, Díaz is ready to represent his country again, this time in front of his family and friends. He has been waiting for this moment for three years — and yes, he has dyed his hair blond.
“I’m really happy,” Díaz said. “Most of the guys, it will be our first time playing at home as professionals. We are so pumped.”
What an exciting recap of Puerto Rico's thrilling game against Panama! The extra innings really showcased their resilience and talent. I appreciate how you captured the momentum moving forward towards Cuba. How do you think this victory will impact their strategy in the upcoming match? level devil