Darell Hernaiz hit a 374-foot home run to left field in the 10th inning Saturday night, lifting host Puerto Rico to a 4-3 World Baseball Classic victory over Panama at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan.
Hernaiz, 24, an infield prospect with the Athletics who hit .231 with two home runs and 16 RBIs at the major league level last season, is a native of San Juan who gave Puerto Rico a 2-0 record in Pool A via the walk-off win. He also singled in the fifth inning, and is now batting .333 for the tournament after homering of Panama’s Severino Gonzalez.
Jose Espada picked up the win in relief for Puerto Rico, throwing two innings while allowing two hits. He struck out one batter and was the fourth pitcher to be used out of the bullpen after Eduardo Rivera started for the hosts.
Panama fell to 0-2 with the loss after Ariel Jurado started the game, throwing five scoreless innings. He struck out four and allowed three hits before giving way to the bullpen. Panama then used five relievers the rest of the way.
Hernaiz’s heroic shot resulted in the second walk-off win of the day in the WBC. In Miami, Ozzie Albies hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the Netherlands over Nicaragua at loanDepot Park.
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