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2026 Caribbean Series: Puerto Rico’s Cangrejeros de Santurce Defeat Panama’s Federales de Chiriquí 8–3, Advance to Semifinals

Matt TallariniFeb 6, 20266 MIN READ
Puerto Rico players celebrate after defeating Panama in Day 5 action of the 2026 Caribbean Series at Estadio Panamericano in Zapopan, Mexico.

ZAPOPAN, Mexico — On a 72-degree sunny afternoon in Jalisco on the final day of the preliminary round, the 2025–26 Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente champion Cangrejeros de Santurce defeated the Federales de Chiriquí of Panama ProBeis, 8–3, to secure a semifinal berth at the 2026 Caribbean Series at Estadio Panamericano.

The win improved Puerto Rico to 2–2 in round-robin play, while Panama finished the tournament winless at 0–4 as the invited guest nation.

Despite the loss, Panama finished the game 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base, remaining competitive into the late innings before Puerto Rico broke the game open.

The Federales de Chiriquí offense struck immediately in the bottom of the first inning, when center fielder José Ramos opened the game with a leadoff triple off the center-field wall.

One batter later, Johan Camargo put Panama on the board with an RBI single to left field, scoring Ramos for a 1–0 lead.

Panama added to its advantage in the bottom of the fifth inning when Camargo lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing shortstop Austin Dennis to score and extend the lead to 2–0.

Puerto Rico answered in the top of the sixth. Nelson Velázquez drove an RBI single into center field to score Gabriel Cancel, cutting the deficit to one.

Moments later, Isan Díaz tied the game with a run-scoring single to center, and Cristián Vázquez followed with a two-run single that pushed Santurce ahead 4–2.

Panama briefly pulled within a run in the seventh inning when Ramos lined an RBI single into center field to score Joshwan Wright.

Puerto Rico put the game away in the eighth. Vázquez laid down a bunt single up the right side to score pinch runner Andy Velázquez, before Rubén Castro reached on an infield single that resulted in two additional runs following a throwing error.

Díaz added the final run of the afternoon with an RBI single in the ninth inning, sealing the 8–3 victory.

Postgame Reaction

After the loss, Federales de Chiriquí manager José Mayorga said Panama’s night swung in the sixth inning, when Puerto Rico’s four-run rally flipped the game after the Federales had built a 2–0 lead. Mayorga pointed to execution and timing, saying the group has to “not make the same mistakes” and learn from moments where “we didn’t do it at the right moment.”

Mayorga also framed the 0–4 finish as a learning checkpoint, emphasizing that the event helped him get a clearer read on his personnel — especially the pitching staff — and reinforced what he described as the team’s fight. He said the focus now is turning the page and applying those lessons toward what comes next for Panama.

On the Puerto Rico side, Cangrejeros de Santurce manager Omar López credited his club’s ability to respond after falling behind and highlighted the bullpen’s work in stabilizing the game. López said the tournament demands fast adjustments and described the team’s mindset as staying locked in throughout the event, with preparation and communication continuing behind the scenes as they look ahead to the semifinal stage.

Semifinals Begin Friday, February 6, 2026

Mexico Red, the 2025–26 Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico champion Charros de Jalisco, have already secured a spot in the 2026 Caribbean Series semifinals, along with defending Caribbean Series champion Leones del Escogido of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana.

Mexico Green, represented by the Tomateros de Culiacán, will also compete in the 2026 Caribbean Series semifinals on February 6.

The Cangrejeros de Santurce have won the Caribbean Series in 1951, 1953, 1955, 1993, and 2000.

Santurce has appeared in the Caribbean Series in 1951, 1953, 1955, 1959, 1971, 1973, 1991, 1993, 2000, 2015, 2016, 2019, and 2020.

The Cangrejeros have also captured the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (LBPRC) championship in the 1950–51, 1952–53, 1954–55, 1958–59, 1961–62, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1999–00, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2018–19, 2019–20, and 2025–26 seasons.

The Federales de Chiriquí have appeared in the Caribbean Series in 2021, 2023, and 2024.

Panama’s ProBeis season was previously canceled due to economic challenges in the country and financial issues involving the national governing body, the Instituto Panameño de Deportes (PANDEPORTES).

This marked the second consecutive Caribbean Series appearance for the Federales de Chiriquí, after returning to the event following their participation in Mazatlán, Mexico in 2021, when ProBeis was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“What I take from the Caribbean Series is understanding my guys, getting to know my pitchers and what they can do, and trying not to make the same mistakes on my end and the players’ end,” Federales manager José Mayorga said during the postgame press conference. “We can talk more about execution and learning to take every day as a new chapter, turn the page, and move forward.”

Mayorga will manage the Panamanian national team at the 2026 World Baseball Classic from March 6–11 in Pool A at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where Panama will face Cuba, Canada, Colombia, and host nation Puerto Rico.

Vázquez will also suit up for Puerto Rico behind the plate at the 2026 World Baseball Classic this March, after being officially announced on February 5, and will appear in his second consecutive event.

The remainder of the 2026 Caribbean Series will be televised in the United States on ESPN Deportes in Spanish and MLB Network in English through the final out of the championship game on February 7.

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.
MEX-G – Mexico Green
MEX-R – Mexico Red
PR – Puerto Rico
DR – Dominican Republic
PAN – Panama  

Sunday, Feb. 1
Cangrejeros de Santurce (PR) 5, Tomateros de Culiacán (MEX-G) 4
Leones del Escogido (DR) 5, Charros de Jalisco (MEX-R) 4

Monday, Feb. 2
Leones del Escogido (DR) 5, Cangrejeros de Santurce (PR) 3
Charros de Jalisco (MEX-R) 11, Federales de Chiriquí (PAN) 4

Tuesday, Feb. 3
Tomateros de Culiacan (MEX-G) 2, Federales de Chiriqui (PAN) 1
Charros de Jalisco (MEX-R) 3, Cangrejeros de Santurce (PR) 0

Wednesday, Feb. 4
Leones del Escogido (DR) 16, Federales de Chiriquí (PAN) 15
Charros de Jalisco (MEX-R) 4, Tomateros de Culiacán (MEX-G) 2

Thursday, Feb. 5

Cangrejeros de Santurce (PR) 8, Federales de Chiriquí (PAN) 3

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

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