Skip to main content
World Baseball Network
Join

From First Pitch to Wild Finish: How the 2026 Caribbean Series Final Played Out in Zapopan

Matt TallariniFeb 10, 20268 MIN READ
Charros de Jalisco players celebrate on the field after winning the 2026 Caribbean Series championship at Estadio Panamericano in Zapopan.

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

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.

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Share this story
Member Discussion
Loading…
Liga ARCO Mexicana del PacificoMexicoSerie del CaribeWBCWBSCWorld Baseball ClassicWorld Baseball Network

Bet on baseball, worldwide. Polymarket runs the prediction markets behind WBN’s live odds — MLB, NPB, KBO, CPBL and more.

Join free ↗

18+ where permitted; availability varies by region. Prediction-market prices are for information only — not financial or betting advice. WBN may earn a referral reward when you join or trade on Polymarket through our links.

NewsScoresOddsShop