NICARAGUA.- The curtain went up on the Central American Baseball Championship, and in a pitching duel, where defensive plays were also key, Costa Rica overcame El Salvador 3 runs to 1, and asserted its status as “favorite” in its debut in this qualifier for the XXIV Central American and Caribbean Games, San Salvador 2023.

Pablo Barquero, from the mound, was the great figure of the Costa Rican team, pitching a one-run, two-strikeout ball in seven innings of work. The left-hander was relieved by Christian López, who looked solid on the mound with his two innings without runs.

For El Salvador, Nelson Alfaro was skillfully handling the opposing batting, but defensive errors complicated him in the sixth inning and he allowed two runs, one of them dirty, and was the loser.

Manuel Ascanio (3-2) and Manrique Mora (4-2) were the best hitters for Costa Rica. For El Salvador, Mario Velasco had a pair of hits in four innings.

Defensively, Williams Mullins, Costa Rica’s center fielder, shined, who with two great defensive plays, prevented offensive rebellions from the Cuscatlecos.

This Tuesday at 6:30 pm (local time), Costa Rica, who has a win without defeat, will take the field to face Nicaragua. The other match on Tuesday, at 11:00 am, will be Honduras against Guatemala.