Puerto Rico opened the U-18 Pan American Championship, the qualifier for the 2027 World Cup, with a 2-1 walk-off win over Panama on Thursday in the tournament’s first day in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic. Puerto Rico plays in Group C alongside Panama and Canada. The game was decided in the bottom of the seventh inning, when Angel Sierra hit a walk-off single that drove in Nelson Molina with the winning run.
Panama had taken the lead in the first inning on a single by Daniel Mendez, but Puerto Rico tied it in the bottom of the same inning when Fabian Rodriguez singled home Valentin Carrasquillo. Both teams then collected four hits apiece. Puerto Rican starter Gean Figueroa worked the first three innings, allowing one run and one hit, and reliever Joniel Miranda earned the win with four scoreless innings, giving up three hits and striking out four.
Dustin Pitti took the loss, allowing the decisive run in the seventh. A second game Thursday against Canada was suspended in the bottom of the fifth inning because of a lack of stadium lighting, with Puerto Rico leading 5-2. WBSC Americas said the game resumes Friday at 2:30 PM, followed by Panama at 3:30 PM, and Puerto Rico closes the first round against Canada on Saturday at noon. The top two teams in the group advance to the Super Round.