Martin ‘Machete’ Maldonado, captain of Puerto Rico, drove in three runs and helped Puerto Rico qualify on Monday for the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic by defeating Cuba 4-1 on a day in which Colombia and Panama were eliminated.
With the win, Puerto Rico improved its record in the first round of the tournament to 3-0 and topped Group A, automatically qualifying to the next phase, which begins next Friday in Houston, Texas, USA.
World Classic: Puerto Rico Qualifies to the Quarterfinals
THE LATEST: Puerto Rico beats Cuba 🇨🇺 and advances to the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic pic.twitter.com/b7Ax41qxIm
– Javi🇨🇺 (@JaviXCubaLibre) March 10, 2026
Cuba, meanwhile, dropped to second place in Group A with a 2-1 record and will fight to qualify for the quarterfinals depending on Canada’s next two challenges.
Puerto Rico’s victory at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, in front of 19,189 fans, was revenge for the time in 2006, the first year of the Classic and in the same San Juan park, when Cuba eliminated the Puerto Rican team from the competition.
The second inning was the decisive and most euphoric of the game for Team Rubio, nickname of the Puerto Rican team.
Darell Hernaiz, the hero of Puerto Rico’s victory last Saturday against Panama, opened the game with a single against Cuban starter Julio Robaina.
Hernaiz, however, was put out by Eddie Rosario’s hit on the diamond.
However, Emmanuel Rivera hit a single, advancing Hernaiz to the intermediate position.
Later, MJ Meléndez received a ticket, filling the pads for Maldonado’s turn.
The Puerto Rican captain, little known for his offense, did not disappoint the thousands of Puerto Ricans in the stands when he hit a superb line drive through the third pad, clearing the bases, putting Puerto Rico up 3-0 and causing a burst of joy in the stadium.
The hit prompted Mesa to pull Robaina and replace him with Luis Romero.
In the fifth inning, Puerto Rico added another run on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Cortés that scored Heliot Ramos for the 4-0 lead.
After the play, Cousin appeared to be hurt and Mesa relieved him for Emmanuel Chapman.
Cuba, meanwhile, scored its lone run in the sixth episode.
With one out, Ariel Martínez was hit by Yacksel Ríos.
Then, veteran slugger Alfredo Despaigne hit a double between right and center field, enough for Martinez to score from first for the 4-1 lead.
Puerto Rico’s next match in the tournament will be this Tuesday against Canada, which in turn will close this first day against Cuba on Wednesday.
Prior to the Cuba-Puerto Rico match, Colombia defeated Panama 4-3, finishing both eliminated with 1-3 records.
Filed under: Puerto Rico Clásico Mundial
With information from EFE
