PANAMA CITY (DA) — Panama struck early with five runs in the first inning and beat Curaçao 9-4 on Thursday in the opening round of baseball at the IV Juegos Suramericanos de la Juventud Panamá 2026.
Curaçao fell to 2-2 and dropped to fourth in the standings. Panama remained unbeaten in first at 4-0, while Brazil and Colombia stood at 3-1.
Panama broke the game open with a five-run first inning, added another run in the second and scored three more in the third to build a 9-3 lead. Curaçao answered with three runs in the top of the third and added one more in the fifth, but could not get any closer.
Curaçao finished with four runs, four hits and three errors. Panama produced nine runs, nine hits and committed four errors.
Jaylliard Emperador led Curaçao’s offense by going 2 for 3 with two runs scored and one RBI. Victor Nieves Mack had one hit and drove in a run, while Tristan Meulens scored once and drew two walks.
Johan Camarena Flores earned the win for Panama. Helmir Helmijr took the loss for Curaçao, and Santiago Mendoza Pimentel recorded the save.
Curaçao will close the opening round on April 24 against Colombia.