Two Venezuelan managers faced each other for the first time in the history of MLB
Miguel Cairo and Carlos Mendoza made history in a duel that ended with a victory for the Mets over the Nationals
For the first time in the history of the Major Leagues, two Venezuelan managers faced each other in the same game. The date was Tuesday night, when Miguel Cairo, interim manager of the Washington Nationals, and Carlos Mendoza, manager of the New York Mets, met on the field.
The result favored the Mets, who won 8-1, but the milestone transcended much more than the scoreboard.
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The game was led offensively by Jeff McNeil, with two hits, two runs scored and three RBIs, as well as Mark Vientos, who also drove in a pair of runs. On the mound, David Peterson shone with a dominant performance of eight complete innings, in which he prescribed 10 strikeouts. With this win, the Mets improved their record to 67-58, while Washington fell to 50-75.
Venezuelan Pride on the Diamondbacks
The game was a special moment for both Cairo and Mendoza, who shared a hug before the start of the game and posed together behind home plate for a historic photo. After the first pitch, the ball was retired and sent directly to the Baseball Hall of Fame, as a testament to the unprecedented event.
“We are two compatriots, friends, and now that we have swapped lines at home plate, we are excited. We are proud to represent Latinos in the United States, to represent our country in the United States, and, of course, to represent our organizations,” said Cairo, 51. “For me, it’s a dream come true.”
Mendoza, 45, also highlighted the significance of the day: “It’s an honor for both of us. I feel honored. It’s a big event at home. I didn’t realize it until they told me. But yes, it’s a special day.”
Both managers share ties to the New York Yankees. Cairo played for the franchise during his career as an infielder, while Mendoza was a coach for the organization for several years, until being hired by the Mets after the 2023 season. In fact,They coincided during Cairo's time as a minor league infield coordinator.
The presence of Cairo and Mendoza adds new names to the short list of Venezuelan managers in MLB. Ozzie Guillen was the first to hold that role, managing the Chicago White Sox from 2004 to 2011, with the 2005 World Series as the highlight. He later managed the Miami Marlins in 2012. Al Pedrique also had a brief stint as manager of Arizona in 2004.