SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The Puerto Rico Baseball Team secured their spot in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic by defeating Cuba with a score of 4-1. The match, played on Monday, pitted two undefeated teams from Group A against each other.
The triumph raises Puerto Rico’s record to 3-0 in the group stage, while Cuba is left with a 2-1 record, still maintaining chances of advancing if they beat Canada in their next game.
Maldonado, key figure in the offensive
Martín Maldonado was the offensive hero of the game, hitting a double that drove in three runs in the second inning against Cuban pitcher Julio Robaina. This hit was crucial to open the scoring and lead the Puerto Rican team to victory.
The Puerto Rican pitching staff also played a key role.
Dominant Puerto Rican Pitching
Starting pitcher Elmer Rodríguez pitched for three innings, and the bullpen, composed of Jovani Morán, Yacksel Ríos, Fernando Cruz and Edwin Díaz, limited the Cuban offense to only one run and two hits.
The fourth run for Puerto Rico came in the fifth inning thanks to a sacrifice fly by Carlos Cortés. Cuba avoided the shutout in the sixth inning with a run-scoring double by Alfredo Despaigne against Ríos.
The start of the game was delayed by an hour and 13 minutes due to the rain in the San Juan stadium. Despite this, Puerto Rico responded to its fans, maintaining its undefeated record in the tournament.
With the classification secured, Puerto Rico will represent Group A in the quarterfinals to be played in Houston, facing a team from Group B.
