The Diablos Rojos del México crushed the Cocodrilos de Matanzas 36-13 this Saturday in the final round robin match of the Baseball Champions League Américas 2026, held at the Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú in Mexico City, marking one of the most lopsided results in the recent history of international baseball competitions.
The score is unusually lopsided for high-level baseball and reflects the huge difference that existed between both teams throughout the tournament, organized by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) from March 24 to 29 in the Mexican capital.
Matanzas arrived at this match already eliminated from the finals, with a record of 1-3 in the tournament after having won only their debut against the CTBC Brothers from Taipei, Taiwan (9-8) on March 25.
The defeat on Saturday marked the culmination of a campaign that fell far short of expectations for the Cuban team, which suffered heavy losses against Dantos de Managua (16-6) on March 26, against Kane County Cougars (9-0) on March 27 — featuring a stellar performance by pitcher Brandon Komar — and against the Diablos Rojos themselves (11-2) on Saturday.
The result further worsened the balance of the Cocodrilos, who entered the tournament as the most dominant team in recent Cuban baseball.
They had won the 64th National Series on February 14 with a postseason record of 12-2 and a run differential of +58, concluding the final with a 11-0 shutout against Las Tunas at the Latinoamericano Stadium in Havana.
The team, led by Armando Ferrer, included key players such as pitcher Yoennis Yera —with a record of 6-6 and an earned run average of 2.75 in the 64th National Series—, first baseman Ariel Martínez, center fielder and captain Eduardo Blanco —MVP of the domestic postseason—, slugger José Amaury Noroña, catcher Andrys Pérez, and outfielder Yassiel González, MVP of the regular phase.
The participation of Matanzas in this tournament carried particular significance: Cuba was excluded from the Caribbean Series 2026, held in Guadalajara in February, which made the Champions League Americas the only international showcase for Cuban baseball this season.
The goal was to surpass or at least match the runner-up position achieved by Las Tunas in the previous edition, when they lost to the very Diablos Rojos, led by Charles Lorenzo Bundy.
The Cuban Baseball Federation described that exclusion as disrespectful, which added additional pressure on the Crocodiles to showcase the level of Cuban baseball on the international stage.
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