Saltillo Falls To Monclova 10-6

The Saraperos de Saltillo squandered an early 6-2 lead and fell to the Acereros del Norte Monclova 10-6 in front of 4,209 fans at Parque Francisco I. Madero on Monday night.

Justin Greene, leading off for Saltillo in the bottom of the 1st inning, doubled to left and scored on a single by Jose Lopez. After an error and a walk loaded the bases, a sac fly to left scored Lopez and the Saraperos took a 2-0 lead.

Monclova answered with 2 runs of their own in the top of the 2nd. Jose Ruiz was hit by a pitch to start the inning and moved to second on a wild pitch by Saltillos starting pitcher, Fernando Perez-Abreu. Ruiz scored on a single by Jose Amador. Antonio Lamas doubled to center to plate Amador and the score was tied at 2.

With one gone in the bottom of the 2nd, Luis Borges singled. Justin Greene walked and Jose Lopez singled to drive in Borges. Manny Rodriguez singled to drive in Greene and the Saraperos lead was 4-2.

Justin Greene walked to lead off the 4th inning for Saltillo and scored when Manny Rodriguez homered to left center to up the Saraperos lead to 6-2.

The Acereros began chipping away at the Saltillo lead in the top of the 6th. Jose Amador led off the inning with a solo home run to center. One out, and a pitching change later, Antonio Lamas doubled and went to third on a ground out. Lamas scored on a wild pitch by Saltillo reliever Jorge Ibarra. The Sarapero lead was down to 6-4.

Back-to-back singles put runners on first and second with no outs for Monclova in the top of the 7th. A double play put Hector Garanzuay on third and Abraham Ramos drove him in with a single. The Saltillo lead was now to 6-5.

Jesus Arredondo singled to lead off the 8th inning for the Acereros. One out later, James Simmons drew a 4 pitch base on balls. Arredondo advanced on a fly ball out and scored on a single by Olmo Rosario. The big blow of the inning came next as Jose Ruiz drilled a home run to right that scored Simmons and Rosario. Monclova had their first lead of the night, 9-6.

A double by Jesus Arredondo, with two outs, started the 9th inning for Monclova. Arredondo scored on a single by Daniel Sanchez for the final 10-6 margin of victory for the Acereros.

Monclova used seven pitchers in the game with reliever Sasagi Sanchez earning the win. Satillo sent six hurlers to the mound on the night with Luis Ramirez charged with a blown save and the loss, giving up 3 runs on 2 hits, including the home run to Ruiz, in 2/3 of an inning.

Jose Ruiz was 1 for 4 with a home run and 3 RBIs for the Acereros while Olmo Rosario went 3 for 5 with an RBI. Hector Garanzuay was also 3 for 5 with a run scored. The Monclova DH, Jose Amador, went 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Antonio Lamas was 3 for 4 and Jesus Arredondo 3 for 5 in the 18 hit attack by Monclova.

Manny Rodriguez went 2 for 5 with a home run and 3 RBIs for Saltillo. Jose Lopez was 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs and a run scored. Ramos Orantes went 2 for 4 with an RBI and lead off man Justin Greene was 2 for 3 with 2 walks and 3 runs scored.