ZAPOPAN, Mexico — Designated hitter Rubén Castro delivered the decisive hit on the opening day of the 2026 Caribbean Series, lifting the Puerto Rico champion Cangrejeros de Santurce to a 5–4 win over the Tomateros de Culiacán on Sunday afternoon at Estadio Panamericano.
Rúben Castro pegó un sencillo y le dio la victoria a Puerto Rico con una remontada voraz a México en el partido inaugural.⚾️???????? pic.twitter.com/1zY025AO9C
— ESPN Béisbol ⚾️ (@ESPN_Beisbol) February 1, 2026
Mexico Green vs. Mexico Red: Tournament Designations
The Tomateros de Culiacán are categorized as the Mexico Green Team after losing in their league championship, while the 2025–26 LAMP champion Charros de Jalisco represent the Mexico Red Team as the host club in Jalisco.
First Pitch Ceremony
ESPN Deportes reporter Guillermo Celis threw out the first pitch prior to the first game of the 2026 Caribbean Series on Sunday afternoon.
@GuillermoCelis lanzó la primera bola del primer juego de la Serie del Caribe ????⚾️.
Tremendo strike de nuestro querido Memo ????. pic.twitter.com/7TeSxccJkD
— ESPN Béisbol ⚾️ (@ESPN_Beisbol) February 1, 2026
Pitching Summary
Cangrejeros de Santurce: Staff Performance
The Cangrejeros de Santurce pitching staff under manager Omar Lopez — starter Colin Wiles and relievers Jordan Morales, Brady Tedesco, Derek West, Roel Ramirez, and Gabriel Rodriguez — worked nine innings, allowing 11 hits, four earned runs, three walks, and four strikeouts.
Colin Wiles’ Line
Wiles threw one inning and allowed five hits, four earned runs, and one walk.
Tomateros de Culiacán: Staff Performance
Tomateros manager Lorenzo Bundy used David Reyes as the starter before turning to David Gutierrez, Sasagi Sanchez, Rafael Cordova, Lupe Chavez, Anthony Gose, and Miguel Vazquez. The staff combined for 8⅔ innings, allowing nine hits, five earned runs, two walks, four strikeouts, and one home run.
David Reyes’ Line
Reyes threw 4⅓ innings, allowing five hits, two earned runs, one walk, and three strikeouts.
How Tomateros Built the Early Lead
Estevan Florial got the Tomateros offense started with a leadoff single into right field that went off the glove of Cangrejeros second baseman Isan Diaz in the top of the first inning.
A few moments later, Rodolfo Amador lofted a double down the right-field line, scoring Florial to take a 1–0 lead.
¡CAYÓ LA PRIMERA CARRERA DE LA SDC 2026!
Con este doble de Rodolfo Amador, México Verde se puso adelante en la pizarra en la 1⃣?#SerieDelCaribe #Jalisco2026 pic.twitter.com/Bbhl6JRJiJ
— Serie del Caribe (@beisboldecaribe) February 1, 2026
The next batter, designated hitter Joey Meneses, lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Allen Cordoba to extend the advantage to 2–0.
In the top of the second inning, the Tomateros bats did not stop. Luis Verdugo pounded an RBI double into the right-center field gap, scoring second baseman Jasson Attondo to make it 3–0.
Tomateros catcher Ali Solis added an RBI single into right field, again scoring Attondo to push the lead to 4–0 and force Santurce to the bullpen early.
¡CAYERON DOS CARRERAS MÁS PARA MÉXICO VERDE! ??
La pizarra al cierre de la 2⃣? es ?? 4-0 ?? pic.twitter.com/iIblKNVhBS
— Serie del Caribe (@beisboldecaribe) February 1, 2026
Santurce’s Response
The Cangrejeros did not get on the board until the bottom of the fourth inning, when Yoandy Morales cracked a two-run home run over the right-center field wall to cut the deficit in half, 4–2.
¡LA PUSO DEL OTRO LADO!
Yohandy Morales de PR la sacó del Panamericano y con ese batazo acerca a su equipo en la pizarra.
4⃣??? 4-2 ?? pic.twitter.com/R7ymUo08eM
— Serie del Caribe (@beisboldecaribe) February 1, 2026
Bundy Turns to the Bullpen
Bundy decided to go to his bullpen in the bottom of the fifth inning, calling upon Gutierrez to replace Reyes.
The Seventh-Inning Push
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Cristian Vazquez led off with a double down the right-field line.
Shortstop Andy Velazquez laid down a sacrifice bunt in front of Tomateros catcher Ali Solis, getting cut down at first base while advancing Vazquez to third base with one out.
A few moments later, designated hitter Ruben Castro hit an RBI ground ball to second base, allowing Vazquez to score and make it 4–3.
Ninth-Inning Finish
Anthony Gose came into the game in the bottom of the ninth inning in an attempt to close out the opener.
Gose faltered immediately when Isan Diaz led off by getting hit by a pitch in the back, putting pressure on the Tomateros pitching staff.
Center fielder Jack Lopez laid down a sacrifice bunt to Gose. Lopez was retired at first, and Diaz advanced to second for the first out.
After Gose walked Vazquez, Bundy decided to go to his bullpen and call on reliever Miguel Vazquez to try to get the final two outs.
Walk-Off Swing
Omar Lopez called on outfielder Jeremy Arocho to pinch run for Vazquez.
Down to their final strike on a full count, Castro went the other way to left field, scoring Diaz and Arocho to beat the Tomateros de Culiacán, 5–4, in the first game of the 2026 Caribbean Series.
Caribbean Series History
The Tomateros de Culiacán won Caribbean Series championships in 1996 and 2002, and have appeared in the event in 1978, 1983, 1985, 1997, 2004, 2015, 2018, 2020, and 2021.
The Cangrejeros de Santurce have won the Caribbean Series in 1951, 1953, 1955, 1993, and 2000.
The Cangrejeros de Santurce have played in the Caribbean Series in 1951, 1953, 1955, 1959, 1971, 1973, 1991, 1993, 2000, 2015, 2016, 2019, and 2020.
Broadcast Information
All 2026 Caribbean Series games are televised in the United States on ESPN Deportes in Spanish and MLB Network in English.
What’s Next
The Tomateros de Culiacán will not play until February 3 against the invitee Panama ProBeis representative, the Federales de Chiriquí, at 3 p.m. EST. The Cangrejeros de Santurce will play the 2025–26 LIDOM champion Leones del Escogido on February 2 at 3 p.m. EST.
2026 Caribbean Series Schedule
All Times Eastern Standard Time
* – If either or both Mexico teams advance to the semifinals, they will play the late game regardless of seeding.
Abbreviations
- MEX-G — Mexico Green
- MEX-R — Mexico Red
- PR — Puerto Rico
- DR — Dominican Republic
- PAN — Panama
Sunday, Feb. 1
8:30 p.m. — Leones del Escogido (DR) vs. Charros de Jalisco (MEX-R)
Monday, Feb. 2
3 p.m. — Cangrejeros de Santurce (PR) vs. Leones del Escogido (DR)
8 p.m. — Charros de Jalisco (MEX-R) vs. Federales de Chiriquí (PAN)
Tuesday, Feb. 3
3 p.m. — Federales de Chiriquí (PAN) vs. Tomateros de Culiacán (MEX-G)
8 p.m. — Charros de Jalisco (MEX-R) vs. Cangrejeros de Santurce (PR)
Wednesday, Feb. 4
3 p.m. — Federales de Chiriquí (PAN) vs. Leones del Escogido (DR)
8 p.m. — Tomateros de Culiacán (MEX-G) vs. Charros de Jalisco (MEX-R)
Thursday, Feb. 5
3 p.m. — Cangrejeros de Santurce (PR) vs. Federales de Chiriquí (PAN)
8 p.m. — Leones del Escogido (DR) vs. Tomateros de Culiacán (MEX-G)
Friday, Feb. 6
3 p.m. — Third Place vs. Second Place — Semifinal 1*
8 p.m. — First Place vs. Fourth Place — Semifinal 2*
Saturday, Feb. 7
8 p.m. — Championship Game
