The Serie de Las Americas tournament began last Thursday in Venezuela at Estadio Monumental Simon Bolivar in Caracas and Estadio Forum in La Guaira.
This year’s participants are the Caimanes de Barranquilla of the Liga Profesional De Béisbol Colombia, Club DAOM of the Liga Argentina de Béisbol, Leones de Leon of the Asociación Profesional de BéisbolNicaraguense, the Aguilas Metropolitanas of Panama ProBeis, Cuba’s national team, and the Willemstad Cannons of the Kampionato Beisbòl Profeshonal Kòrsou.
Below are Thursday’s results from the two semifinal games played, and the remaining schedule for the tournament. The third-place game and the championship game are today, Friday, Feb. 13, at Estadio Monumental Simon Bolivar.
Colombia 6, Panama 4 – Colombia trailed 4-2 following Brainer Bonaci’s two-run single for Panama in the bottom of the seventh, but the away team’s bats wouldn’t go down quietly, as a sacrifice fly and Jesus Marriaga’s RBI knock tied the score at four in the eighth.
Catcher Gabriel Lino, who had three RBIs in the semifinals matchup, deposited a two-run homer over the left field wall to put Colombia ahead 6-4 in the ninth. Reliever Pedro Garcia threw a clean ninth inning to record the save, and four of the six bullpen arms Colombia called upon had scoreless outings.
Venezuela 9, Cuba 1 – Cuba held a one-run lead for less than 20 minutes after plating their lone run of the contest in the top of the first. Hernan Perez went 3-for-6 at the plate for Venezuela, including RBI doubles in the bottom of the second and eighth innings.
Like Perez, former Major Leaguers Renato Nunez and Rougned Odor made an impact on offense. They each contributed solo homers as Cuba’s pitching staff watched the game slip away with a four-run bottom of the eighth from Venezuela. Lefty Adrian Almeida allowed one earned run and struck out six in 5 ⅓ frames for the semifinal winners.
Third-Place Game and Championship – With their victories, Colombia and Venezuela will meet in this year’s Serie de Las Americas championship game on Friday, 7:30 p.m. EST at Estadio Monumental Simon Bolivar. The first pitch for the third-place game between Panama and Cuba is set for 1:30 p.m. EST.
For more information on the 2026 Serie de Las Americas tournament and to view the remaining schedule, click here.
Photo: Renato Nunez had a solo homer for the Navegantes del Magallanes in their 9-1 win in the Serie de Las Americas semifinal against Cuba. (Photo courtesy of the LVBP)
