Puerto Rico defeated Colombia 5-0 in the World Baseball Classic, turning weeks of roster anger into a celebratory home opener at Estadio Hiram Bithorn. Friday at 9: 14 p. m. ET, 18, 793 fans and millions across the archipelago and diaspora watched puerto rico take the field as a five-run fifth inning and solid pitching decided the game.
Five-Run Fifth Propels Puerto Rico Past Colombia
Puerto Rico’s offense exploded in the fifth inning, when a five-run rally produced the game’s decisive margin and featured four different run producers: Willi Castro, Eddie Rosario, Heliot Ramos and Martin Maldonado each drove in runs during that frame. The five-run fifth turned a close early contest into a 5-0 advantage and provided the offensive lift the home crowd sought after weeks of frustration over absent stars.
Seth Lugo’s Four Scoreless Innings Highlight Improved Stuff
Seth Lugo started for Puerto Rico and worked four scoreless innings, striking out three batters while allowing three hits and two walks in his outing. Lugo threw 36 of 62 pitches for strikes, was removed because of the WBC pool-play 65-pitch limit, and showed increased velocity — his fastball averaged 92. 7 mph and at times touched 95 mph — numbers that underpinned his ability to generate a 28% whiff rate on the night.
Roster Friction, Insurance Denials and Team Resolve
Weeks of resentment on the island followed late insurance denials that kept high-profile players from playing; Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa were denied insurance in late January, and catcher Victor Caratini and reliever Alexis Diaz were also denied coverage. Enrique Hernández had been known to be unavailable after offseason elbow surgery, and two-time All-Star right-hander Jose Berríos was denied insurance for pool play. Puerto Rico president José Quiles had threatened to withdraw the team amid the chaos, and a last-ditch offer from a prominent Puerto Rican music artist to cover insurance for the two stars was not approved by the players’ agencies or teams.
Still, manager Yadier Molina framed the night as a statement, saying, “We’re not going to bow our heads, ” and closer Edwin Díaz echoed the group’s hunger to compete, noting the team’s belief in its pitching and defense. The roster leaned heavily on young players rather than the absent household names, and the Team Rubio tradition — players bleaching their hair blond, a carryover from 2017 — was visible across the lineup as the island celebrated the win.
More details on Puerto Rico’s next Pool A game and any roster updates are expected later in pool play; more details expected 11: 00 p. m. ET.
