Puerto Rico opened its World Baseball Classic campaign with a convincing 5-0 victory over Colombia in Group A action on Friday, riding strong pitching from starter Seth Lugo and closer Edwin Díaz to secure the shutout.
Lugo set the tone on the mound, delivering four-plus innings of effective work to keep Colombia off the scoreboard. The right-hander allowed just three hits during his outing, limiting traffic on the bases and preventing Colombia from stringing together any sustained threats. Working efficiently through the early frames, Lugo blended his repertoire to generate weak contact and give Puerto Rico a foundation of confidence in its tournament opener.
Puerto Rico’s bullpen took over after Lugo’s departure and continued the shutout effort, maintaining control of the game and protecting the lead as the matchup moved into the late innings. Relievers held Colombia in check, preserving the advantage and preventing any late momentum shift.
Díaz, one of the most accomplished closers in Major League Baseball, was called on to finish the job in the ninth inning. Taking the ball with a five-run cushion, he closed out the game to complete the combined shutout. His appearance added a sense of assurance to Puerto Rico’s effort, as he handled the final three outs and sealed the team’s first win of the tournament.
On the offensive side, Puerto Rico generated enough run support to back the strong pitching performance, building a 5-0 lead that held up comfortably. While specific scoring details were not immediately available, the lineup capitalized on its opportunities and steadily pulled away, giving the pitching staff room to attack the strike zone throughout the night.
The result gives Puerto Rico an early boost in Group A play, placing the team in a favorable position as pool competition continues. Behind Lugo’s steady start and Díaz’s reliable finish, Puerto Rico opened its World Baseball Classic run with a complete performance, combining timely offense with dominant run prevention to shut out Colombia in its first game of the tournament.
