Puerto Rico has once again advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic. As if anything else should have been expected, even given the circumstances.
Stellar pitching and one big swing of the bat – Martín Maldonado’s three-run double in the bottom of the second inning – proved more than enough to subdue Cuba and register a 4-1 victory on March 9 to clinch Pool A and punch the Boricua’s ticket to Houston.
In front of an overflow partisan crowd of 20,000-plus at Estadio Hiram Bithorn, Puerto Rico held Cuba to just two hits and one unearned run. Yankees farmhand Elmer Rodríguez pitched three scoreless innings and a procession of four relievers – capped by All-Star closer Edwin Díaz – gave up just one hit and one unearned run.
Puerto Rico has advanced out of the group stage in all six World Baseball Classics, joining Japan in that exclusive circle. Cuba still has a shot to go forward for the sixth time as well, needing just a win over Canada – or a Puerto Rico win over the Canadians – to reach the quarterfinals.
The Puerto Ricans have no such worries; this night was a relative breeze after a 4-3, 10-inning win over Panama that required erasure of one-run deficits in the ninth and 10th before Darell Hernaiz’s walk-off home run incited bedlam.
On this night against Cuba, relievers Jovani Moran, Yacksel Rios, Fernando Cruz and Díaz pitched carefully and effectively to a veteran Cuban lineup, getting all the runs they needed when Maldonado, the 39-year-old team sage, turned on a slider down the third base line, steering it just fair to score three runs. Cleanup hitter Carlos Cortes added a fifth-inning sacrifice fly.
That was a plenty big enough cushion for Díaz, who set down Cuba in order on just 12 pitches after his signature Timmy Trumpet intro got the crowd predictably hype. The final strikeout set off a raucous celebration in San Juan’s signature stadium in this year that insurance problems decimated the roster before the event began.
Puerto Rico maintains 4-1 lead into bottom of eighth
We’ve reached the elite major league portion of Puerto Rico’s bullpen and it’s just as daunting as the rest of it. Yankees reliever Fernando Cruz recorded two strikeouts in the top of the eighth inning, providing a bridge to peerless closer Edwin Diaz as Puerto Rico maintains a 4-1 lead against Cuba.
Cruz’s second strikeout came courtesy of a two-strike pitch clock violation of Erisbuel Arruebarrena, providing an unexpected thrill for the crowd of 20,000-plus at Estadio Hiram Bithorn in San Juan.
Diaz will face the Nos. 6, 7 and 8 spots in Cuba’s order.
Puerto Rico needs six outs with 4-1 lead
Puerto Rico is getting closer and closer to a trip to Houston. The host squad in Pool A needs just six more outs to subdue Cuba, win the group and advance to the quarterfinals – and three of those outs figure to come courtesy of All-Star closer Edwin Díaz.
Puerto Rico has received four innings of one-hit relief from Jovani Moran and Yacksel Rios, with the lone run surrendered coming on an error following a throw from the outfield. And Díaz, the new Los Angeles Dodgers closer, is poised to punch the ticket.
Cuba gets on board, but Puerto Rico maintains 4-1 lead
Puerto Rico’s nearly perfect night of pitching was dashed in the top of the sixth, when reliever Yacksel Rios hit a batter and gave up an RBI double to Cuban slugger Alfredo Despaigne. But the veteran major league reliever still struck out three batters in the inning, including Omar Hernandez to end the threat, and Puerto Rico holds a 4-1 lead with just nine outs to get to win Pool A.
The Boricua extended their lead in the bottom of the fifth when Cuban reliever Josimar Cousin, battling a blister, gave up a double to Heliot Ramos and yielded a sacrifice fly to Carlos Cortes, giving Puerto Rico a 4-0 lead. Yet it’s still close – and getting late – at Estadio Hiram Bithorn.
Josimar Cousin keeps Cuba in it as Puerto Rico leads 3-0
Josimar Cousin, who reached Class AAA with the Chicago White Sox, has kept Cuba close in its battle against a major league-laden lineup from Puerto Rico. Cousin, a 6-3, 230-pound 28-year-old, inherited a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the second inning, got out of that jam and began a run of eight straight batters retired for Cuba as the game enters the fifth inning
Cousin pitched in the White Sox organization in 2023 and 2024 and spent last season in Mexico. On this night, he loomed large for Cuba. Puerto Rico still leads this winner-moves-on battle 3-0, but it’s still very much a game thanks to Cousin.
Elmer Rodríguez shows Yankee bosses his mettle for Puerto Rico
It didn’t seem like the best timing: Shortly before Puerto Rico took on Cuba, the Yankees announced right-hander Elmer Rodríguez was being optioned to minor league camp – just before he took the mound for his squad.
Oh, he probably had a heads-up about it, but Rodríguez nonetheless had a platform his fellow Yankee farmhands did not. And Rodríguez made the most of it, pitching three shutout innings, working around three walks and protecting Puerto Rico’s 3-0 lead.
The 22-year-old struck out three and in his biggest moment, induced a comebacker to start a 1-4-3 double play in the second inning, shortly after a leadoff walk. He also benefited from a nice play by Nolan Arenado – who ranged well into foul ground and threw out Yoan Moncada for the final out of the third. But Rodriguez looked unflappable, striking out three and displaying what appeared to be a relatively slow heartbeat, given the 20,000 or so partisans jammed into Estadio Bithorn..
And with that, perhaps he earned a longer look someday in Yankee camp.
Martín Maldonado clears bases, gives Puerto Rico 3-0 lead over Cuba
The oldest and perhaps wisest member of Team Puerto Rico gave them a massive edge in their showdown against Cuba. Martín Maldonado, the 39-year-old pressed into service after insurance denials kept several Puerto Ricans off the roster, smoked a first-pitch slider off Cuban starter Julio Robaina just past third baseman Yoan Moncada, clearing the bases and giving Puerto Rico a 3-0 lead through two innings.
The rally was keyed largely by MJ Melendez’s 10-pitch at-bat against Robaina, with Melendez finally drawing a full-count walk. Maldonado finished Robaina with one swing, enabling Darell Hernaiz, Emmanuel Rivera and Melendez to chug around the bases and stake Puerto Rico starter Elmer Rodríguez to a healthy lead.
Right-hander Luis Romero came on in relief for Cuba, walked the first two batters he faced but struck out Nolan Arenado and got Carlos Cortes on a pop fly to shortstop, leaving the bases loaded. Puerto Rico may rue that missed opportunity, but still cashed in nicely in batting around.
Cuba, Puerto Rico scoreless after first inning
Both starting pitchers allowed the leadoff batter to reach but then calmed down to post zeroes as Cuba-Puerto Rico completed the first inning. Puerto Rico starter Elmer Rodríguez issued a leadoff walk and fell behind Yoan Moncada 2-0, but Moncada swung at the next pitch and grounded into a fielder’s choice, short-circuting any threat. Puerto Rico leadoff man Willi Castro singled and, with one out, stole second but advanced no further against Cuban lefty Julio Robaina.
Cuba-Puerto Rico underway in San Juan after delay
First pitch came at 8:21 ET before a jam-packed house at Estadio Hiram Bithorn. Puerto Rico starter Elmer Rodríguez might have been a bit too amped up – his first six pitches to Cuban hitters were balls before inducing a fielder’s choice from Yoan Moncada.
Start time set for Puerto Rico-Cuba: 8:20 ET
Stubborn rain has finally moved out of the area of Estadio Hiram Bithorn, at least enough for officials to declare a first pitch time for Cuba and Puerto Rico: 8:20 p.m. ET, or about an hour and 15 minutes after the originally scheduled first pitch.
At last, certainty.
Rain delays start of Puerto Rico-Cuba
This highly-anticipated Caribbean matchup will have to wait just a bit longer. Rain in San Juan has delayed the start of Puerto Rico and Cuba, although the teams are in the dugout and the tarp expected to be pulled soon.
Estadio Hiram Bithorn is, alas, the lone WBC venue that is not climate-controlled.
Where to watch Puerto Rico vs Cuba baseball game
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- TV channel: Fox Sports 1
- Live stream: FoxSports.com // Fubo
Watch Puerto Rico vs Cuba live on Fubo
Puerto Rico, Cuba lineups, starting pitchers
Elmer Rodriguez, a 22-year-old right-hander in the New York Yankees organization, will start for Puerto Rico. Rodriguez reached Class AAA last season and has averaged 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings in his major league career. He’ll be opposed by Cuban lefty Julio Robaina, a 5-11 24-year-old and former Astros farmhand who pitched in independent ball in 2025.
The lineups for both teams:
Cuba lineup tonight against Puerto Rico:
- CF Roel Santos
- 3B Yoan Moncada
- 1B Ariel Martínez
- DH Alfredo Despaigne
- SS Erisbuel Arruebuena
- C Omar Hernández
- RF Yoelkis Guibert
- LF Leonel Moas
- 2B Yiddi Cappe
P: LHP Julio Robaina
Puerto Rico lineup tonight against Cuba:
- 2B Willi Castro
- CF Heliot Ramos
- 3B Nolan Arenado
- RF Carlos Cortes
- SS Darell Hernaiz
- LF Eddie Rosario
- 1B Emmanuel Rivera
- DH MJ Melendez
- C Martín Maldonado
SP: Elmer Rodriguez
Puerto Rico WBC roster
Pitchers: Raymond Burgos LHP, Fernando Cruz RHP, José De León RHP, Edwin Díaz RHP, José Espada RHP, Rico Garcia RHP, Jorge López RHP, Seth Lugo RHP, Jovani Morán LHP, Luis Quiñones RHP, Ángel Reyes RHP, Yacksel Ríos RHP, Eduardo Rivera LHP, Elmer Rodríguez RHP, Gabriel Rodríguez LHP, Ricardo Velez RHP
Catchers: Martín Maldonado, Christian Vázquez
Infielders: Nolan Arenado, Edwin Arroyo, Darell Hernáiz, Emmanuel Rivera, Luis Vázquez
Outfielders: Willi Castro, Carlos Cortes, Matthew Lugo, MJ Melendez, Heliot Ramos, Eddie Rosario, Bryan Torres
Cuba WBC roster
Pitchers: Frank Alvarez RHP, Emmanuel Chapman RHP, Josimar Cousin RHP, Naykel Cruz LHP, Daviel Hurtado LHP, Denny Larrondo RHP, Yoan López RHP, Raidel Martínez RHP, Randy Martinez LHP, Liván Moinelo LHP, Darien Núñez LHP, Julio Robaina LHP, Osiel Rodriguez RHP, Yariel Rodriguez RHP, Luis Romero Jr. RHP, Pedro Santos RHP
Catchers: Omar Hernandez, Andrys Pérez
Infielders: Erisbel Barbaro Arruebarruena, Yiddi Cappe, Ariel Martínez, Yoán Moncada, Malcom Nuñez, Alexei Ramírez, Alexander Vargas
Outfielders: Alfredo Despaigne, Yoelquis Guibert, Leonel Moa, Roel Santos, Yoel Yanqui