WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL A - PANAMA VS PUERTO RICO

March 7, 2026

Jose Mayorga

Hiram Bithorn Stadium

Team Panama

Postgame Press Conference

Puerto Rico 4, Panama 3

Q. It was a well-fought game. It's a bitter taste. What's the decision-making on Baldonado leaving him in while he was struggling with his command?

JOSÉ MAYORGA: Well, he our closer together with Guerra, and I believe we put the best man we had at the time.

Q. Also, the play that ended the inning, if you could talk about that decision, if you could talk about that play. Getting thrown at home plate.

JOSÉ MAYORGA: You're right. What can I say? Obviously he was sent home, and it was a great throw.

Q. The decision of bringing Guerra to work against Puerto Rico?

JOSÉ MAYORGA: We had Guerra, we were at a good point in the game where we had an advantage. We know that Guerra can bridge it to other guys. We knew he was going to go today and we needed to stretch him out.

We knew that Kenny did a good job, and we're trying to attack those left-handers in the lineup.

Q. We're playing professional baseball, and do you think that factors like the umpire should not affect the performance of your ballplayers? Do you think the influence in that inning in Baldonado, and I don't know if you see it the same way because Baldonado, he had three walks. What do you think about some of those calls while he was struggling with his control?

JOSÉ MAYORGA: The umpire was doing his job. He was saying that the pitches were low. You have to look at the videos again. At the end of the day, we can't do anything about it. If he called it a ball, it's because he understood that's how it was.

Now on my part, I mean, nothing would come out. Like what you're saying, what he's done before.

I know, and I've seen it on TV. The fact is he's an experienced umpire. He's very good. You're not going to get that out of me. He did his job, and if he called it as a ball. Had Baldonado attacked the zone a little bit more, had he done that, we wouldn't have been in that position. At the end of the day, it's Baldonado's job to perform, and it wasn't done. At the end of the day, we have to do a job, and he has to do his.

Q. On the subject of Baldonado, was there any sense of trust there? I understand you're the manager and you make the decision, but how was the reading of the game at that time?

JOSÉ MAYORGA: Well, I think it was fine. I would like to ask you guys a question. Don't you guys trust Baldonado? He's our closer at the end of the day. I think obviously I do trust him. He's playing at a great level, and we know what he's done always. It was just a bad day that he couldn't perform. He had come in in previous innings and won the innings.

Q. Could he have someone talk to him at the mound?

JOSÉ MAYORGA: If you saw, we did not have the visits anymore.