By dropping their first game of the 2026 Baseball Champions League to the Kane County Cougars of the American Association, the Diablos Rojos put themselves in a tough spot.
With the top two teams in a five team, four-game round robin making the finals, that opening loss essentially made the Diablos’ three remaining round robin games must-win scenarios. They were able to take the second game of round robin play from the Dantos de Managua of Nicaragua’s Campeonato German Pomares 10-7 on Wednesday, keeping their shot at a repeat title alive.
After Jon Singleton drew a walk to load the bases in the top of the first, Dantos starter Danilo Bermudez threw a wild pitch to Maikel Franco that allowed Jose Marmolejos to score from third.
In the second, the Diablos added four more, getting a two-run double from Carlos Sepulveda and a two-run homer from Singleton that made it 5-1. An RBI single by Moises Gutierrez and another wild pitch by Bermudez that allowed Sepulveda to score gave the Diablos a 7-1 lead.
Jon Singleton with an absolutely titanic blast to give Diablos Rojos a 5-1 lead! pic.twitter.com/4vdh8L3ber
— Jeff Duda (@INTLBaseball24) March 26, 2026
The Dantos weren’t done, though, and climbed back into the game late, getting a bases-loaded two-run single from Bismarck Rivera in the bottom of the seventh, with Bryan Ruiz scoring when Diablos catcher Francisco Mejia couldn’t handle the throw from the outfield to make it 7-4. Another RBI single from Derek Loaisiga scored Rivera, and the Dantos were within two.
In the eighth, an RBI single by Juan Carlos Urbina scored Benjamin Alegria to make it 7-6.
But the Diablos picked up three runs in the top of the ninth to put the game away, with Jose Marmolejos tripling home Sepulveda and Gutierrez, and then scoring when Singleton reached on an error by Alegria at second.
José Marmolejos with a two run triple off the top of the wall and Diablos Rojos takes a 9-6 lead in the 9th pic.twitter.com/drKKO4mUCB
— Jeff Duda (@INTLBaseball24) March 26, 2026
With the win, both the Dantos and the Diablos are 1-1 at the Baseball Champions League. Thursday’s early game at noon EDT will pit the Chinese Professional Baseball League’s CTBC Brothers (0-2), who will start righty Chen Yuan-Wei, against the American Association’s Kane County Cougars (1-0), who counter with righty Vinny Timpanelli. The Diablos Rojos are off on Thursday, while the Dantos (1-1) will face the Cocodrilos de Matanzas (1-0) of Cuba’s Serie Nacional at 9 p.m. EDT, with lefty Leonardo Crawford starting for the Dantos against righty Raimond Figueredo for Matanzas.
Where to Watch – GameTime, the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s official streaming platform, will stream every game live. A full tournament pass is available for US$12.99, while a Championship Day pass is priced at US$9.99. Daily access for each round-robin day is available for US$7.99.
The 2026 Baseball Champions League will also be broadcast on television. ESPN will broadcast all 11 games in Mexico, while Canal 13 VIVA will carry the games in Nicaragua, Meridiano Televisión will televise the event in Venezuela, and Tele Rebelde will carry the games in Cuba.
2026 Baseball Champions League Schedule
All times Eastern Daylight Time
All games at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu, Mexico City
March 24
Dantos de Managua 17, CTBC Brothers 5
Kane County Cougars 14, Diablos Rojos del Mexico 7
March 25
Cocodrilos de Matanzas 9, CTBC Brothers 8
Diablos Rojos del Mexico vs. Dantos de Managua
March 26
Noon – CTBC Brothers vs. Kane County Cougars
9 p.m. – Cocodrilos de Matanzas vs. Dantos de Managua
March 27
Noon – Kane County Cougars vs. Cocodrilos de Matanzas
9 p.m. – Diablos Rojos del Mexico vs. CTBC Brothers
March 28
Noon – Dantos de Managua vs. Kane County Cougars
6 p.m. – Cocodrilos de Matanzas vs. Diablos Rojos del Mexico
March 29
4 p.m. – Championship Game
Photo: Jon Singleton of the Diablos Rojos circles the bases after hitting a two-run homer against the Dantos de Managua. (Photo courtesy of the Diablos Rojos del Mexico)
