Tijuana Tops Puebla in Game 1 of Serie del Rey

6 RUN 6TH CRUSHES PERICO'S HOPES

Toros Celebrate Game 1 Win

In the first game of the Serie del Rey, played in Tijuana, the Toros broke a 2 all game wide open with a 6 run 6th inning to take game 1 by an 8-2 score.

The Toros opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd when Roberto Lopez hit a sac fly to center, on a full count, that scored Juan Apodaca. Tijuana took the early 1-0 lead.

A wild pitch by losing pitcher Josh Roenicke in the 4th scored Cyle Hankerd from third to give the Toros a 2-0 lead.

Tijuana Scores on Pericos Wild Pitch

Puebla narrowed the score to 2-1 in the top of the 5th. Sergio Perez hit a one out single to left and raced home on a double to the right field corner by Alberto Carreon.

The Pericos tied the score, at 2 all, in the top of the 6th inning. Issmael Salas reached safely, and advanced to second, on an fielding/throwing error by the Toros second baseman. Salas went to third on a single by Jesus Arredondo and scored on a single by Ricky Rodriguez. But Cesar Tapia flew out to center and Hector Garanzuay  hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the Pericos threat and get Tijuana out of a jam.

The house of cards the Pericos had built came tumbling down in the home half of the 6th. Dustin Martin drew a one out walk and promptly stole second. Juan Apodaca singled to score Martin for the 3-2 lead but the Toros were not done. After a pitching change, Isaac Rodriguez drew a walk to put runners on first and second with 2 outs. Following yet another Puebla pitching change, Jose Guadalupe Chavez singled to center to drive in Apodaca while taking second on the throw home.

Yet again the Pericos opted for a pitching change but the result would be the same. Roberto Lopez doubled to left to score Rodriguez and Chavez. Corey Brown followed with a single to plate Lopez. Brown stole second and scored on a Cyle Hankerd single to center to complete the scoring and give the Toros the 8-2 win.

Puebla was unable to mount a threat over the remaining 3 innings and find themselves at an 0-1 disadvantage leading into game 2 of the series.

Jo-Jo Reyes picked up the win, pitching 2/3 of an inning for Tijuana. Josh Roenicke took the loss. Roenicke looked solid for 5 innings giving up 5 hits while striking out 7 and walking 4 but he set the table for the Toro's hitters in the 6th inning and the Puebla relievers were unable to keep the runners from scoring.

Cyle Hankerd went 3 for 5, Juan Apodaca 3 for 4 and Roberto Lopez 1 for 4 with 3 RBIs for Tijuana.

Jesus Arredondo was 2 for 3 for Puebla. Ricky Rodriguez and Alberto Carreon were both 1 foe 3 with an RBI for the Pericos.

Game 2 will be played on Wednesday night in Tijuana before the series moves to Puebla for game 3 on Friday the 8th of September.