Nicaragua vs. Puerto Rico: Caribbean Series opener comes down to the wire

MIAMI, FL—The first game of the 2024 Caribbean Series got going at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday and featured Puerto Rico and Nicaragua. Although Puerto Rico had the flashier names in this tournament and the overall better team, Nicaragua put up a fight. The underdogs took an early 1-0 lead and it was a close contest, which would end up going in favor of Yadier Molina’s ballclub, 5-2.

Nicaragua vs. Puerto Rico box score and play-by-play

After not winning a single game in the World Baseball Classic, expectations for this Nicaraguan team were low. Still, in the top of the second inning, Raudy Read led off the inning with a 102.0 mph double and was later driven in by catcher Cheslor Cuthbert to make it an early 1-0 lead for Nicaragua.

Although Puerto Rico starter Eduardo Rivera gave up four hits, he made hitters work with 24 swings and nine whiffs. Rivera was sitting around 90.7 and ended the morning slate going 3 ⅓ innings, five strikeouts, two walks, and gave up one run off of four hits. He was then replaced by Christian Torres.

Although Puerto Rico had its moments throughout the game, especially in the bottom of the fourth inning, Nicaragua’s starter Luis Ramirez provided length. He went 4 ⅓ innings and allowed only one run on three hits. Ramirez struck out three hitters and walked three.

It wasn’t Luis Ramirez who gave up the lead though. It was reliever Carlos Teller who gave up an RBI triple to shortstop Jack Lopez who drove in San Francisco Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos to give Puerto Rico a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth. That run was credited to reliever Jesús Linarez, who left the game with Ramos on base.

After Bryan Torres got on base with a single, Vimael Machin smacked an RBI single to drive in Bryan Torres and make it a 3-1 Puerto Rico lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. For Nicaragua, they just weren’t able to get anything going through a Puerto Rico bullpen which was regarded as one of the best in the tournament.

The bottom of the eighth inning ended up being the dagger in this game as Heliot Ramos drove in the fourth run on an RBI double and Jack Lopez drove in the fifth run on a sacrifice fly. Each of Nicaragua's pitchers ended up giving up a single run each.

Nicaragua brought the potential tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth, but couldn't pull any closer.

The next time Nicaragua will be back on the field is on Friday as they go up against the Dominican Republic at 3:30 p.m. As for Puerto Rico, they take on México in the 8:30 p.m. slate on Friday as well.

Watch every Caribbean Series game in English on Bally Sports Florida/Bally Sports Sun or in Spanish on ESPN+/ESPN Deportes.