Classic Game: Two Walk-off Homers in One Day! Puerto Rico's Epic Comeback Against Panama

In today's intense World Baseball Classic showdown in San Juan, Puerto Rico avoided an upset in front of their home crowd. After a grueling 10-inning battle, they reversed Panama's lead with a 4-3 victory. Darell Hernaiz sealed the win in the bottom of the 10th with an unquestionable walk-off home run to left field.

With this triumph, Puerto Rico secured two consecutive wins, while Panama suffered two straight losses.

Hernaiz's hit marked the second walk-off home run in Classic history and the second of the day. Earlier, Ozzie Albies blasted a three-run shot in the ninth inning at Miami's LoanDepot Park, helping the Netherlands defeat Nicaragua.

Puerto Rico entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 1-2. Eddie Rosario started with a walk, followed by Martín Maldonado's single to right field. After one out, Matthew Lugo drew a walk to load the bases. Willi Castro patiently worked another walk, forcing in the tying run.

In the top of the 10th, Panama regained the lead with José Caballero's RBI single. But Puerto Rico responded immediately in the bottom half: an infield grounder brought in the equalizer, and then Hernaiz launched the walk-off homer to end the game.

The first four innings featured a pitchers' duel, with Panama's Ariel Jurado and Puerto Rico's Eduardo Rivera holding their ground. Rivera was replaced in the top of the fifth with one out and a runner on first, and Panama promptly broke the deadlock. Bethancourt drove a single through the middle to score first, and Luis Castillo followed with a double against reliever Jorge López, putting Panama ahead 2-0.

In the bottom of the sixth, Puerto Rico cut the deficit with Nolan Arenado's sacrifice fly with bases loaded. But with one out and runners on first and second, Panama's Kenny Hernandez emerged from the bullpen and induced Carlos Cortes into a 4-6-3 double play, preserving the one-run advantage.

Midway through the seventh inning, the game was halted by rain for 24 minutes. After resumption, Hernandez remained sharp, striking out Lugo in the bottom of the seventh with two outs and runners on first and third.

The bottom of the eighth was equally tense, with Panama's first baseman Bethancourt delivering two stellar defensive plays: a diving stop to rob Heliot Ramos of a hit, and then, with the tying run on base, catching a low throw from the shortstop to complete the third out.