Junior Lake: “I only go out to give my best”

Guadalajara, Mexico.– With a career that places him among the most outstanding players in the history of the Caribbean Series, Junior Lake once again left his mark on the regional stage by leading the victorious debut of the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Series Jalisco 2026.

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In his ninth appearance in the Caribbean classic, the outfielder for the Leones del Escogido had a perfect performance, batting 4-4, driving in three runs, and making a key defensive play that prevented a tie, in the 5-4 victory over the Charros de Jalisco, representatives of Mexico. “I go out to play and forget everything. I just go out to give my best to seek a good result,” Lake expressed during the post-match press conference. The game on Sunday was Lake’s number 49 in the Caribbean Series. With his four official at-bats, he totaled 164 plate appearances, and with the three RBIs, he reached 22 RBIs in his tournament history. “For me it is an honor and a privilege to be in the history of Caribbean baseball. Many players who have been a great motivation for me have passed through here, and to be in the history is an achievement for which I thank God,” added the veteran player from San Pedro de Macorís.

Game-by-game approach

Despite the triumph in the debut, the leader of the Dominican selection, Ramón Santiago, made it clear that the team’s focus is on daily work within a short and highly competitive tournament. “Tomorrow we have an opponent who won today and who has always been complicated, like Puerto Rico. We have to come with the same energy. The boys want this two-time championship here in the Caribbean Series and we are going to maintain the same plan and the same determination that allowed us to win this game,” said the scarlet foreman. Santiago also indicated that he could make adjustments to the lineup in order to give participation to the entire available roster. “Changes may occur, although they say that the winning alignment is not changed. We have a group of 28 players and I want to give everyone a chance,” he concluded. The Leones del Escogido, representatives of the Dominican Republic, will face this Monday at 4:00 p.m. (Dominican time) the Cangrejeros de Santurce, from Puerto Rico, in their second commitment of the 2026 Caribbean Series.