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.