Ricky Alavez and Luis Juarez homered, and CJ Retherford was 2 for 5 with an RBI. Newcomer Alex Liddi went 1 for 4 with 2 runs scored and Walter Ibarra, hitting 9th in the lineup, was 2 for 3 with an RBI as the Aguilas de Mexicali routed the Venados de Mazatlán 8-1 to win game 1 of the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico Championship round.
After giving up a run to Mazatlán in the 1st inning, Mexicali starter Javier Solano, who picked up the win, scattered 4 hits and struck out 7 in 5 1/3 innings on the mound. After Solano threw his 96th pitch of the game, the Aguilas manager called in reliever Manuel Chavez to finish the 6th inning. 4 Mexicali relievers held the Venados to 2 hits and no runs while striking out 3 over the final 3 2/3 innings. Amilcar Gaxiola worked 5 innings for the Venados allowing 5 runs on 7 hits in taking the loss.
Mazatlán scored their only run in the 1st inning. Justin Greene singled to center and scored on a double to left center by Esteban Quiroz that put the Venados up 1-0. Mazatlán would only get a runner in scoring position once more.
In the bottom of the 2nd, Yuniesky Betancourt singled and went to second as Alex Liddi reached safely on a fielding error by the Venados shortstop. Ricky Alarez followed with a long home run to left that scored Betancourt and Liddi as Mexicali took a 3-1 lead.
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| Alvarez' 3 Run Home Run |
Mexicali scored a run in the bottom of the 4th on a solo home run to left by Luis Juarez and a 4-1 Aguilas lead.
Two innings later the Aguilas broke the game open, scoring 4 runs on 4 hits. The Venados helped Mexicali in the inning by committing an error, throwing a wild pitch and walking 2 batters. Liddi led off the inning with a single to deep short and went to second on the throwing error. Alvarez waited out a walk. One out later Liddi scored on a ground rule double to left by Xorge Carrillo with Alvarez moving to third. With Walter Ibarra batting, the Venados pitcher uncorked a wild pitch that scored Alvarez and moved Carrillo to third. Ibarra followed with a single to score Carrillo. After a force out at second on a ground ball by Chris Roberson, Roman Urias drew the second walk of the inning. CJ Retherford singled to center to score Roberson and the Aguilas had an 8-1 lead and the win.
Game 2 of the series will be played on Thursday the 21st of January in Mexicali. Following a travel day on Friday, the series will resume in Mazatlán with game 3 on Saturday the 23rd. Games 4 and 5, if necessary, will be played on Sunday and Monday.
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