SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO — Puerto Rico continued its dominance in the World Baseball Classic Monday night, defeating Cuba 4–1 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium to remain undefeated in Pool A and clinch a berth in the tournament’s quarterfinals.
The game featured two unbeaten teams entering the night at 2–0, but Puerto Rico used timely hitting and another dominant pitching performance to improve to 3–0 in pool play.
After a rain delay of one hour and 23 minutes pushed first pitch to 8:23 p.m. local time, Puerto Rico wasted little time establishing control.
The decisive moment came in the second inning when veteran catcher Martín Maldonado delivered a bases-loaded double that drove in two runs and gave Puerto Rico an early three-run lead. The rally proved more than enough for a Puerto Rican pitching staff that has been one of the most effective units in the tournament.
Twenty-two-year-old Elmer Rodríguez, a top prospect in the New York Yankees organization currently pitching for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, started for Puerto Rico and worked around early trouble. After issuing a lead-off walk in the first inning, Rodríguez quickly settled in and retired the next three batters.
He completed three scoreless innings, allowing one hit while striking out three and throwing 50 pitches.
Twenty-two-year-old Elmer Rodríguez made his World Baseball Classic debut Monday night in his homeland of Puerto Rico and recorded three strikeouts across three shutout innings – Image Credit: World Baseball Classic/Major League Baseball
Puerto Rico added another run in the fifth inning when Carlos Cortes lifted a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 4–0.
Cuba finally broke through in the sixth inning when designated hitter Alfredo Despaigne ripped an RBI double to cut the deficit to 4–1. The hit added another milestone to Despaigne’s World Baseball Classic legacy, giving him 12 extra-base hits in tournament history—second all-time behind Cuban legend Frederich Cepeda’s 15.
Despaigne also remains the all-time WBC leader in home runs with seven dating back to 2009.
Puerto Rico’s bullpen shut down any potential comeback. Jovani Morán, Yacksel Ríos and Fernandez Cruz combined to keep Cuba’s offense quiet before star closer Edwin Díaz entered to a thunderous ovation from the San Juan crowd.
Díaz, a two-time LatinoMVP Reliever of the Year, delivered a perfect ninth inning, striking out two and needing just 12 pitches to secure the save.
“It’s great to be back and pitching in front of the fans here,” Díaz said afterward. “The energy, the emotion you get—I’m so happy for it.”
Puerto Rico’s pitching staff allowed just two hits across nine innings.
Puerto Rico’s manager Yadier Molina speaking to the media following the team’s win over Cuba Monday night to advance out of Pool A and into the WBC quarterfinals – Image Credit: World Baseball Classic/Major League Baseball
Manager Yadier Molina praised the team’s blend of youth and experience following the victory:
“I’m very proud of this group of players. But what’s important is the fundamentals they play with and the veterans who are here. They take pride in teaching and showing the young players how to play.”
After the game, Maldonado, a 15-year Major Leaguer, spending time with seven MLB franchises throughout his playing-career, announced that this World Baseball Classic will be his last and the final time he will play professionally in Puerto Rico, stating, “Well, tomorrow (Tuesday) is my last game. It’s not that it may be…
I want to finish, as I’ve always said in my career. There are a lot of children in the stadium looking at you, and I want to have a chance of giving that hope, that vision that they can do it.”
Puerto Rico’s Martín Maldonado announced that the 2026 World Baseball Classic will be the last WBC he’ll be playing in and his last game will be on Tuesday vs. Canada – Image Credit: World Baseball Classic/Major League Baseball
The victory continues Puerto Rico’s remarkable success in the opening round of the World Baseball Classic. The team improved to 17–2 all-time in first-round games, the best record of any nation in the tournament.
Puerto Rico now sits atop Pool A at 3–0, while Cuba dropped to 2–1.
Puerto Rico has gone 3-0 to start off the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Pool A play, including wins against Cuba, Panama and Colombia – Image Credit: Joel Rodriguez/Latino Sports
Canada remains in contention and could still win the group depending on results in the remaining games.
For Puerto Rico, however, the mission remains unchanged—continuing a tournament run fueled by dominant pitching, disciplined fundamentals and the electric support of the home crowd in San Juan.
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