By ESENDOM
Novemer 16, 2025
Lea en español: República Dominicana vence 6-2 a Puerto Rico en el ShowDown de Citi Field
QUEENS, NEW YORK — On Saturday, November 15, 2025, Citi Field turned into the Caribbean’s loudest ballpark. Under a sea of flags, bursts of merengue, and New York’s autumn chill, the Dominican Republic topped Puerto Rico 6–2 in the “ShowDown: RD vs PR,” an all-star winter-league clash that doubled as a tribute to Robinson Canó. Timely knocks from Webster Rivas and Emmanuel Rodríguez decided it in front of 20,057 fans who made Queens feel like home.
A Rivalry with High Stakes
This historic matchup — the first between professional all-star selections from the region on U.S. soil — came together with support from FENAPEPRO (Dominican players’ federation), Puerto Rico’s APPPR, Major League Baseball, and the Mets. The symbolism was everywhere: every Dominican player wore No. 24 for Canó; Puerto Rico honored Carlos Delgado with No. 21, with Delgado serving as honorary manager.
The pregame ceremony mirrored that cultural duet: Héctor Acosta “El Torito” sang the Dominican National Anthem, Gilberto Santa Rosa performed “La Borinqueña,” and Shantelle delivered the U.S. anthem.
A Block-Party Before the First Pitch
Hours before the game, the Citi Field lots felt like a neighborhood festival — food tents, booming speakers, kids darting around with gloves and flags for capes. The Mets promoted a full ShowDown Block Party outside the park, extending the celebration beyond the foul lines.
How the Game Unfolded
Scoreless through the first five innings, the Dominican Republic broke through in the sixth: Aderlin Rodríguez doubled, moved to third, and scored on a Sócrates Brito sac fly. With runners poised, Webster Rivas delivered a two-run single to center for a 3–0 lead. Puerto Rico answered in the seventh when Jack López dropped a two-run blooper to left with the bases loaded, trimming the Dominican Republic’s lead 3–2.
The Knockout Swing
In the eighth, Emmanuel Rodríguez crushed a 416-foot two-run homer off Osvaldo Berríos — a 112.1 mph rocket — to make it 5–2. Rodríguez finished 2-for-3 with one home run, two RBIs, and two runs, earning MVP honors. The Dominican Republic tacked on a sixth run and out-hit Puerto Rico 11–6. Huascar Ynoa got the win; Yacksel Ríos took the loss.
A Seventh-Inning Pause for Robinson Canó
Everything stopped in the seventh to honor Robinson Canó. The eight-time All-Star tipped his cap through tears as former Mets second baseman Luis Castillo escorted him off the field — a farewell in the city where Canó started his career. Several fans wore both Canó Mets and Yankees jerseys. The tribute matched the night’s heartbeat: pride shared across rival colors.
More than a Game
The ShowDown reflected New York’s reality: two Caribbean communities that have built generations across the five boroughs, speaking baseball as a common language. For the Dominican Republic, the win extends a throughline from LIDOM to MLB dominance; for Puerto Rico, it showcased a rich tradition and competitive fire, with greats like Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltrán embedded within the Puerto Rican team. As fans streamed out singing and promising a rematch, one thing felt certain: Caribbean baseball does not just travel — it takes over the stage, especially in New York.
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