ZAPOPAN, Mexico – With a back and forth game down in Guadalajara with two Mexico club team rivals going at it in front of 11,767 fans in attendance at Estadio Panamericano, the 2025-26 Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico champion, the Charros de Jalisco won in the bottom of the 10th inning after Tomateros de Culiacan reliever Luis Chavez threw a wild pitch during Bligh Madris’ at-bat, resulting in Michael Wielansky scoring to capture a 12-11 win and the franchise’s first Caribbean Series championship, playing in front of their hometown fans.
2026 Caribbean Series: Charros de Jalisco Win First Title In Wild Extra-Innings Thriller
¡HISTÓRICO! WILD PITCH, WALK OFF Y LOS CHARROS DE MÉXICO SON CAMPEONES DE LA SERIE DEL CARIBE 2026 ???????? pic.twitter.com/K63mlsJImx
— Serie del Caribe (@beisboldecaribe) February 8, 2026
The Charros de Jalisco also played Lorenzo Bundy’s Tomateros de Culiacan in the LAMP best-of-seven championship series and also swept them at home back on January 25 to earn a spot at the 2026 Caribbean Series.
The Tomateros de Culiacan were categorized as the Mexico Green Team as the second place team and the Charros de Jalisco were the Mexico Red Team from being the league’s champion, at the 2026 Caribbean Series.
Michael Wielansky Wins 2026 Caribbean Series MVP
Charros de Jalisco second baseman Michael Wielansky won the 2026 Caribbean Series MVP after hitting .625/.667/.750 in four games of the Round Robin and in the knock out stage he had a slash line of .400/.455/.400 in the knockout stage.
Wielansky had 26 at-bats and scored seven runs, with two doubles, six RBIs, one stolen base, two walks, and only struck out once, during the 2026 Caribbean Series.
Wielansky became the fifth player in Caribbean Series history to record 14 hits.
¡HISTÓRICO! ????
Michael Wielansky se convierte en el jugador de un equipo mexicano, con más imparables en una sola Serie del Caribe con 14. ????#LigaARCO ⚾️#SDC26???????? pic.twitter.com/DIxaysya6f
— Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico (@Liga_Arco) February 8, 2026
Pre-Game Ceremony
Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico president Salvador Escobar, who started his role with the league on April 10, 2025, threw out the ceremonial first pitch, prior to the 2026 Caribbean Series championship game on Saturday night.
Championship Game In Zapopan
Charros Jump Out Early
Charros de Jalisco shortstop Connor Hollis cracked a line drive single to center field, scoring catcher Santiago Chavez to go up 1-0.
¡SE INAUGURA LA PIZARRA! ????
Imparable de Connor Hollis al prado central, trae la primera carrera del encuentro para México Rojo. ????#LigaARCO ⚾️ #SDC26 ???????? pic.twitter.com/kywDZ1Fx57
— Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico (@Liga_Arco) February 8, 2026
Shortly after, Michael Wielansky smacked a two-run single to right field, scoring Hollis and catcher Santiago Chavez, to extend the lead to 3-0.
¡LÍNEAAAA QUE DA MÁS VENTAJA PARA MÉXICO ROJO!
Michael Wielansky manda a la registradora a Hollis y Ornelas y JALISCO ya lo gana por 3
2⃣? @clubtomateros ?? 0-3 ?? @charrosbeisbol pic.twitter.com/EBgBz0DWTZ
— Serie del Caribe (@beisboldecaribe) February 8, 2026
Tomateros Answer Back
In the top of the third inning, the Tomateros de Culiacan got on the board with Carlos Sepulveda hitting an RBI ground out to first base, scoring Estevan Florial to make it 3-1.
EL MÉXICO VERDE ACORTA LA DISTANCIA ????
Carlos Sepulveda batea rodado y Florial anota ????
3⃣???? @clubtomateros ???????? 1-3 ???????? @charrosbeisbol pic.twitter.com/EvS4CL6bsf
— Serie del Caribe (@beisboldecaribe) February 8, 2026
Hollis kept his hot bat alive in the bottom of the third inning, when he drove a two-run fly ball single to right field, scoring Bligh Madris and Reynaldo Rodriguez to stretch out a 5-1 lead.
The next batter, Julian Ornelas lofted a two-run single to left field, scoring Chavez and Hollis to stamp on a 7-1 lead.
¡SIGUE EL RALLY! ?
Ahora es Julián Ornelas quien responde con el madero y aumenta la ventaja de México Rojo. ???#LigaARCO ⚾️#SDC26?? pic.twitter.com/H8JSPomdeq
— Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico (@Liga_Arco) February 8, 2026
Bligh Madris Goes Deep
During the bottom of the fourth inning, Madris pounded a two-run home run over the right field wall, his third of the Caribbean Series, scoring Mateo Gil to jump out the board to 9-1.
¡SIGUE EL RALLY! ?
Ahora es Julián Ornelas quien responde con el madero y aumenta la ventaja de México Rojo. ???#LigaARCO ⚾️#SDC26?? pic.twitter.com/H8JSPomdeq
— Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico (@Liga_Arco) February 8, 2026
Tomateros Rally in the Fifth
In the top of the fifth inning, the Tomateros de Culiacan crept their way back into the game, when Ali Solis hit a ground ball RBI single to left field, scoring Florial to make it 9-2.
¡LLEGÓ LA SEGUNDA! ?
Con sencillo de Alí Solís, llega Jasson Atondo a la registradora con la segunda carrera de México Verde. ???#LigaARCO ⚾️#SDC26?? pic.twitter.com/TEZQiqXqCz
— Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico (@Liga_Arco) February 8, 2026
The Tomateros de Culiacan started to make things very interesting shortly after, with Allen Cordoba slashing a two-run double to left field, scoring Jasson Atondo and Ali Solis to pin the score at 9-4.
¡SE ARMÓ EL RALLY! ?
Doble de Allen Córdoba remolca dos más para México Verde quienes siguen recortando distancia en la pizarra. ???#LigaARCO ⚾️#SDC26?? pic.twitter.com/nZo6pttp8m
— Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico (@Liga_Arco) February 8, 2026
A few moments later, Yadir Drake joined the hit parade with an RBI single to right field, scoring Cordoba to cling back down four runs at 9-5.
Shortly after, Victor Mendoza reached on a single until Madris bobbled the baseball in right field that skipped behind him, which en route him to second base from the miscue, and also resulting in Drake coming into score to make it 9-6.
The Tomateros offense claimed their sixth and final run from the top of the fifth inning, when shortstop Luis Verdugo drove a ground ball RBI single to left field, scoring Mendoza to inch back in the game by two runs at 9-7.
¡ESTUVO INTENSO ESE TURNO DE LOS TOMATEROS EN LA 5° ENTRADA! ???? ????
¡México Verde redujo la ventaja de Charros a 9-7! ???? pic.twitter.com/f6aZnD6iTI
— ESPN Béisbol ⚾️ (@ESPN_Beisbol) February 8, 2026
Victor Mendoza Cuts the Lead
Mendoza continued his hot bat in the top of the seventh inning, when he launched a solo home run over the left field wall to edge back in the game at 9-8.
¡CHULETAZO! ????
Cuadrangular solitario de Víctor Mendoza para reducir la diferencia al mínimo para México Verde. ????????????#LigaARCO ⚾️#SDC26???????? pic.twitter.com/aYtdoNgL2n
— Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico (@Liga_Arco) February 8, 2026
Ornelas Delivers Again
During the bottom of the seventh inning, Ornelas did not stop swinging a consistent stick, when he skied a double off the wall in left field, scoring Hollis to go up by two runs at 10-8.
¡RESPONDE JULIÁN ORNELAS! ????
Batazo de 2 estaciones al prado izquierdo impulsa la novena para México Rojo. ????????????#LigaARCO ⚾️#SDC26???????? pic.twitter.com/iBtNXz97Hv
— Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico (@Liga_Arco) February 8, 2026
Mendoza Ties It in the Ninth
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Benji Gil went to his bullpen to call on reliever Trevor Clifton to replace Matt Roster for the final three outs until with one out Mendoza tied the scoreboard up with a two-run home run over the right wall, scoring Drake to even the game up at 10-10.
Damas y Caballeros…
¡TENEMOS JUEGO NUEVO! ????
Segundo Chuletazo de la noche y México Verde empata a 10 la pizarra en la novena alta. ????#LigaARCO ⚾️#SDC26???????? pic.twitter.com/ifZKq3OiKZ
— Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico (@Liga_Arco) February 8, 2026
Extra Innings Decide the Championship
The Caribbean Series championship game would be decided in extra innings, with both Mexico teams looking to win the club league’s first event since 2016, when Tomateros pinch hitter Eric Filia lined out to Wielansky to end the bottom of the ninth.
Sin drama no es final.
Sin drama no es beisbol.¡TENEMOS ENTRADAS EXTRAS EN LA FINAL DE LA SERIE DEL CARIBE 2026! ????????????#LigaARCO ⚾️#SDC26???????? pic.twitter.com/rzrDKmgZT9
— Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico (@Liga_Arco) February 8, 2026
Top of the 10th
Florial started the top of the 10th inning on second base, due to recording the final out of the top of the ninth inning.
After Jasson Atondo led off the inning with a sacrifice bunt to Clifton throwing to Wielansky covering first base for the first out of the inning, Ali Solis lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, resulting in Florial coming into score from third base to take the lead at 11-10.
¡MÉXICO VERDE TOMA VENTAJA! ????
Con sacfly de Alí Solís, timbra Estevan Florial la carrera 11. ????????????#LigaARCO ⚾️#SDC26???????? pic.twitter.com/8Xs9VNdo0d
— Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico (@Liga_Arco) February 8, 2026
Bottom of the 10th
Charros catcher Alexis Wilson was replaced by pinch runner Cristopher Gastelum started the bottom of the 10th inning on second base as the tying run.
Shortly after, Connor Hollis led off the inning with a sacrifice bunt to Amador, with Sepulveda covering second base, and Gastelum advancing to third base with one out.
In the crucial time frame of the bottom of the 10th inning, Wielansky hit a ground ball back to reliever Luis Chavez. Chavez got Gastelum in a 1-5-2 run down for the second out of the inning, with the tying run being stopped.
A few moments later, on a 2-2 count to Mateo Gil, Tomateros reliever Luis Chavez threw a wild pitch behind the backstop, resulting in Ornelas coming into score, to tie the game up at 11-11.
Y otra vez…
¡JUEGO NUEVOOOO! ????
Con wild pitch, timbra Michael Wielansky y se vuelve a empatar el marcador. ????????????
¡Más dramaaaaaa! ????#LigaARCO ⚾️#SDC26???????? pic.twitter.com/1aHeB3K45b
— Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico (@Liga_Arco) February 8, 2026
After Mateo Gil drew the two-out walk in the 10 pitch at-bat, the winning run of the game came crossed the plate, shortly after, during Madris’ at-bat, when Chavez threw the ball in the dirt, that skipped passed Solis, and Wielansky flashing down the third base line, scoring the winning championship run for the Charros de Jalisco winning their first Caribbean Series championship, and win 12-11 against the Tomateros de Culiacan.
