Venados Bounce Back With 4-2 Win In Game 2

TIE SERIE FINAL AT 1 GAME APIECE

The Venados de Mazatlán tied the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico Serie Final against the Aguilas de Mexicali at 1 game each last night with a 4-2 win in Mexicali.

Winning Pitcher Alejandro Soto

3 runs in the 4th inning by the Venados gave them the 3-1 lead and the Mazatlán relief pitchers did the rest. Alejandro Soto, the starter for Mazatlán went 5 innings for the win, scattering 4 hits (2 hits after the 1st inning), allowing 1 run, walking 1 and striking out 2. Steven Hensley struck out 1 batter while working a 1-2-3 ninth inning to pick up the save...his 4th of the playoffs.

Terance Marin, the Aguilas starter, took the loss giving up 4 runs on 5 hits although only 1 of the runs was earned. Marin walked 2 and struck out 1.

Agustin Murillo went 2 for 4 at the plate for the Venados with an RBI. Justin Greene, Esteban Quiroz, Cyle Hankerd and Olmo Rosario were all 1 for 4 on the night with Quiroz and Rosario driving in runs. Mike Jacobs had a sac fly RBI for Mazatlán.

Chris Roberson was 2 for 4 for the Aguilas with a run scored. Wellington Dotel had a pinch hit double with a run scored. Yuniesky Betancourt had a triple with an RBI for Mexicali and Luis Juarez had an RBI on a sac fly.

Roberson led off the bottom of the 1st for the Aguilas with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Roman Urias and scored on a triple to left center by Betancourt as Mexicali took a quick 1-0 lead.

Mazatlán struck back in the top of the 4th inning With one out, Esteban Quiroz reached base safely on a fielding error by the Aguilas third baseman. Cyle Hankerd followed with a double to left that put runners at second and third with 1 out. Murillo singled to score Quiroz and put runners on the corners. Mike Jacobs, the Venados DH, hit a sac fly to center that scored Hankerd as Murillo took second on the throw. Rosario singled to score Murillo and the Venados led 3-1.

The Venados added an insurance run in the 6th on a one out single by Greene that was too tough for the shortstop to handle. Greene stole second and scored on a double by Quiroz and the 4-1 Mazatlán lead.

Mexicali would score a run in the bottom of the 7th when pinch hitter Wellington Dotel hit a double to center and went to third as the Venados center fielder misplayed the bounce for an error. Juarez drove in Dotel with a sac fly to right that cut the lead to 4-2 but the Aguilas could muster no more offense and the Venados took game 2 of the Serie Final by that score.

The win in Mexicali ensures that all 3 games scheduled for Mazatlán will take place. After a travel day on Friday, the series resumes with game 3 on Saturday. Game 4 of the series will be played on Sunday with game 5 scheduled for Monday the 25th of January.