Diablos Take Opener From Guerreros 8-6

JUAN CARLOS GAMBOA'S GRAND SLAM IGNITES OFFENSE

The Guerreros de Oaxaca jumped out to an early 4-0 lead over the Diablos after 2 innings. Mexico roared back, scoring 5 runs in the 3rd inning, powered by a grand slam off of the bat of Juan Carlos Gamboa. 1 run in the 4th and 2 runs in the 5th resulted in Mexico overpowering Oaxaca to take game 1 of their Zona Sur Championship matchup. (Watch the grand slam here)

Juan Carlos Gamboa

Oaxaca scored twice in the top of the 1st on singles by lead off hitter Yordanys Linares, Jay Austin and Henry Urrutia to give the Guerreros the quick 2-0 lead.

Julian Ornelas and Samar Leyva started the top of the 2nd for Oaxaca with singles. Both runners advanced on a fly ball out. Alejandro Gonzalez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ornelas and Leyva scored on a throwing error by the Diablo's first baseman, Guerreros 4, Diablos 0 after two innings.

The Diablos struck back hard in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Ricardo Valenzuela led off the inning being hit by a pitch. Jesus Fabela singled to left. Carlos Figueroa waited out a walk to load the bases. With one swing of the bat, Juan Carlos Gamboa cleared the bases on a deep home run to right. The grand slam tied the game for Mexico at 4 all. Two outs later, David Vidal singled and scored on a double to the left field corner by Michael Choice. The Diablos had their first lead of the game 5-4.

Ricardo Valenzuela tripled to lead off the bottom of the 4th foe Mexico and scored on a double by Jesus Fabela to give the Diablos a 6-4 lead.

Henry Urrutia homered to left to lead off the top of the 5th for Oaxaca. Dustin Geiger walked and following a line drive out to short, Samar Leyva was awarded first base when hit by a pitch. Both runnaers advanced on a bouncer back to the mound. A wild pitch allowed Geiger to score and the score was tied at 6.

Henry Urrutia

Luis Jimenez doubled in the Diablo's half of the 5th and scored on a single by David Vidal. Vidal went to third on a single by Michael Choice and scored on a force play for the final 2 runs of the game and the 8-6 win for Mexico.

Neither starter was around for the finish although both were touched for the majority or the runs scored. Arturo Lopez (1-0) picked up the win in relief and Manny Acosta struck out the 3 batters he faced in the 9th inning to record the save. Axel Rios (0-1) gave up 3 runs on 5 hits in 1 1/3 innings of work in taking the loss.

These two teams meet for game 2 of the series on Saturday the 22nd of September with the Diablos up 1 game to none in the Zona Sur Championship.