Puerto Rico rallies past Dominican Republic 4-3 in baseball opener at Santo Domingo 2026

Puerto Rico opened its baseball campaign at the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games with a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Dominican Republic at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal in Santo Domingo ¹. The win came in extra innings thanks to a clutch single by José "Pocholo" Rivera in the bottom of the eighth, driving in Rubén Castro from second base to complete the comeback against the host nation ².

Puerto Rico came out swinging from the first inning. Edison Mora reached base and was driven home by a Castro fielder's choice grounder. Anthony García then crushed a solo home run to center field to put Puerto Rico up 2-0 ¹. Left-hander Jorhan Laboy took the mound as the starter and kept the Dominican lineup in check until Michael de León drove in a run in the second inning to cut the lead to 2-1 ³.

The game remained tight through the middle innings. Puerto Rico's bullpen — comprised of Sidney Duprey, Joshua Torres, Jorge Benítez, Miguel Mejía, Miguel Ausua, and Rubén Ramírez — worked in combination to contain the Dominican batters ². However, in the seventh inning, Deivi Muñoz connected on a hit with two outs to tie the game at two, forcing the tiebreaker rule into effect for the eighth inning ¹.

Under that rule, the Dominican Republic scored first in their half of the inning to take a 3-2 lead, putting enormous pressure on Puerto Rico. But the Puerto Rican squad refused to fold. With runners on first and second, García was hit by a pitch from Miguel Ángel Castro to load the bases ³. Kerby Camacho then worked a bases-loaded walk, pushing Mora across the plate to tie the game at 3-3. Then came the defining moment: Rivera, with characteristic composure, lined a single that brought Castro home from second base to score the winning run and ignite a Puerto Rican celebration in the heart of Santo Domingo ¹².

Rubén Ramírez earned the win in relief, while Miguel Ángel Castro took the loss for the Dominican Republic ³.

What this means for you

This victory carries enormous symbolic and competitive weight for Puerto Rican baseball. Beating the Dominican Republic in their own house — at the legendary Estadio Quisqueya — is a statement that Puerto Rico came to compete for the gold medal. Baseball has always been a sport where the rivalry between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic runs deep, and opening the tournament with a win on rival territory gives a tremendous psychological boost to the entire team and the broader delegation at the Games.

Moreover, the way the victory unfolded — a comeback in the final inning under the tiebreaker rule — demonstrates the depth of the roster and the competitive mentality of these ballplayers. These are not names you will see in Major League Baseball, but they are athletes who represent the island with everything they have.

Checklist

1. Catch Puerto Rico's next game against Cuba this Saturday at 5:00 p.m. (Santo Domingo local time), with Luis Leroy Cruz starting on the mound ¹.
2. On Sunday at 1:30 p.m., Puerto Rico closes out the group stage against Curaçao.
3. Look for the broadcast on the Central American and Caribbean Games digital platforms or local sports channels.
4. Show your support by sharing the team's achievements on social media with the hashtags #SantoDomingo2026 and #PuertoRico.
5. Stay updated on Puerto Rico's overall medal count, which continues to grow across multiple sports.

What comes next

The matchup against Cuba on Saturday will be a true test. Cuba is historically a baseball powerhouse at the Central American and Caribbean Games, and the showdown promises to be as tightly contested as the one against the Dominican Republic. If Puerto Rico wins, they would virtually lock up advancement to the next round with a favorable position. The group-stage closer against Curaçao on Sunday should be more manageable, but in short tournaments like these, nothing can be taken for granted. What is clear is that this Puerto Rican squad arrived in Santo Domingo hungry for a medal, and the first step has already been taken.

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Sources

¹ Primera Hora — Puerto Rico deja sobre el terreno a República Dominicana

² NotiCel — Puerto Rico deja en el terreno a Dominicana

³ El Vocero — Puerto Rico remonta y derrota a República Dominicana