Panama Kicks Off Santo Domingo 2026 Baseball With Victory Over Mexico

Panama's baseball team launched their campaign at the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo 2026 with a decisive 4-2 victory over Mexico. The Panamanian squad effectively managed an early lead throughout the seven-inning game.

The Panamanian offense made its presence felt early, scoring one run in the second inning and two more in the third, building a 3-0 advantage that proved crucial. An additional run in the fourth inning sealed Panama's offensive production, concluding the game with 10 hits and a flawless defensive performance.

Mexico attempted a comeback, scoring their only two runs in the fifth inning. However, their offense, which produced 5 hits, was insufficient to overcome Panama's lead. Key offensive contributors for Panama included Héctor Arturo Rayo Mendoza, who had 2 hits in 3 at-bats with a run scored, and Jhonny Yussef Santos Thill, who went 2-3 with an RBI. Carlos Alfredo Mosquera Ayala added a home run, and Luis Eduardo Castillo Tuñón and Erasmo Joel Caballero Ruiz each contributed an RBI.

On the pitching front, Panama utilized three arms to secure the win. Starter Gilberto Antonio Chu Pineda delivered 1.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Pedro Augusto González Campos pitched 0.2 scoreless innings before Harold Osvaldo Arauz Quintero earned the victory by pitching 4.1 innings, allowing Mexico's two runs on four hits while striking out one batter. Panama's strong start sets a confident tone for the rest of the tournament, with their next match scheduled against Nicaragua.