The Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (LBPRC) playoffs delivered another intense night of winter ball action, as the Cangrejeros de Santurce and the Leones de Ponce both earned key victories to level their respective semifinal series at one game apiece.
Cangrejeros de Santurce 6, Criollos de Caguas 2
Facing the defending champions Criollos de Caguas, Santurce responded with authority to even the series. Rubén Castro broke the deadlock with a solo home run in the seventh inning and later scored again in the eighth, when the Cangrejeros erupted for five runs.
Jack López and Shed Long Jr. each delivered RBI singles during the decisive eighth inning, while Christian Vázquez added an RBI double to put the game out of reach. On the mound, starter Eduardo Rivera was dominant, tossing five scoreless innings while allowing just two hits, walking three, and striking out eight.
Caguas mounted a brief rally in the bottom of the eighth when Luis Vázquez hit a two-run double, but the damage had already been done as Santurce secured the 6–2 win.
Leones de Ponce 5, Gigantes de Carolina 2
In the other semifinal matchup, the Leones de Ponce matched Carolina’s intensity and evened their series against the Gigantes de Carolina.
Emmanuel Rivera led the offensive charge, driving in three runs. He opened the scoring with a solo home run in the first inning, followed with a sacrifice fly in the third, and capped his night with an RBI single in the eighth. Ponce starter Brady Tedesco delivered a strong performance, working 5 2/3 innings while allowing one run on four hits and one walk. The lone Carolina run came on Gabriel Cancel’s solo homer in the third inning.
Sunday LBPRC Winter Ball Playoff Schedule
All times Eastern Standard Time
Streaming live on YouTube via the LBPRC’s official page
- 6:21 p.m. – Criollos de Caguas at Cangrejeros de Santurce
Game 3 – Series tied 1–1 - 6:21 p.m. – Gigantes de Carolina at Leones de Ponce
Game 3 – Series tied 1–1
With both semifinal series now deadlocked, the LBPRC playoffs continue to showcase high-level pitching, timely hitting, and the unmistakable intensity of Puerto Rican winter baseball as the race to the championship accelerates.