Baseball Champions League Americas: Caimanes beat Granma and earn their second win

The Barranquilla Caimanes began the second day of the Baseball Champions League Americas, defeating Alazanes de Granma 7-3 and earning their second win.

The game was delayed three hours by rain in the top of the first. Play resumed after almost three hours, and Barranquilla secured their first lead with three consecutive home runs.

Right fielder Gustavo Campero, the 2021 WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup MVP, hit the second home run.

"It was amazing," he commented after the game. "We never expected something like that. We went out there to compete, have good at-bats, make good contacts. It just happened. Hitting is contagious, you know. I followed Garcia, Valdez followed me, and Marval almost hit another homer. Amazing."

The long rain delay didn't affect Barranquilla's players. "We tried to stay focused. We rested, talked about the fact we had to consider the game was starting over, and we needed to be ready and help the team win."

Caimanes are now very close to making the final of the inaugural Baseball Champions League Americas.

"We are not thinking about the final. We are just here to play day by day; we are thinking about the game against Fargo. Let's say we want to play every day in this competition."

The night game between Yucatan Leones and Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks is scheduled for 20:00 local time.

Live blog - Game as it happened

Former minor leaguer Carlos Ocampo took the mound for the Caimanes. He spent the 2023 season with Aguascalientes in the Mexican Baseball League (LMB).

He walked Hector Castillo to leadoff the game. Castillo stole second, then the game was called becayse of a heavy shower.

As the game resumed, Ocampo worked quickly through the top of the first.

Granma handed the ball to Raymond Figueredo, a starter for the Havana Industriales in the Cuban National League.

Leadoff hitter Edwin Garcia homered on the second pitch of the game.
Right fielder Gustavo Campero wasted no time and went deep on the first pitch he saw. Designated hitter Jesus Valdez waited on the fourth pitch to add the third consecutive homer by the Caimanes.

Yasel Santana took the mound for Barranquilla in the top of the second.

Granma tied the game in the top of the third. Shortstop Andres de la Cruz led off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Second baseman Anibal Medina followed with an RBI single.

Centre fielder Yoan Moreno added a single and Cuba advanced the runners with a sacrifice fly. Left fielder Raico Almeida batted in the second run with an infield single, sending Santana to the showers.

Designated hitter Yordanis Samon batted in the tying run against new pitcher Jesus Fandino with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Figueredo allowed a leadoff walk to Osman Marval, got the first out on strikes and walked Pabel Manzanero. He left for Keniel Ferraz, who got out of the inning with a flyout and a strikeout.

The Caimanes took the lead back in the bottom of the fifth. Ferraz walked Edgar Robles to lead off the at-bat. Barranquilla bunted him to second. With one out, Campero looked at two strikes, then got to the Cuban reliever with an RBI single.

Barranquilla loaded the bases with a single by Jesus Valdez and a walk and Cuba called Kelbis Rodriguez from the bullpen.

The right-hander got the second out on strikes. Catcher Pabel Mazanero cleared the bases with a sharp double along the left field line.

Barranquilla's bullpen muted Granma's bats in the final third of the game. Veteran right-hander Fernando Perez took the mound for the Caimanes in the top of the sixth. Left-hander Fabian Cota took care of the eighth and Pedro Rodriguez got the three final outs.

• Barranquilla overcome Leones to end Day 1
• Granma beats Fargo in opener
• Meet the four managers
• WBSC, LMB reveal Baseball Champions League Americas Trophy
• How to watch the Baseball Champions League Americas
• WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari: "A new era begins for International Baseball"