Yucatan Takes Divisional Playoff Series From Campche 6-1

5 RUNS IN 3 INNINGS LIFT LEONES

The Leones de Yucatan dispatched the #4 seed Piratas de Campeche 6-1 to take the Zona Sur divisional series 4 games to 3 and advance to the Championship round. Jonathan Castellanos pitched 7 innings of 5 hit ball, allowing 1 run while striking out 7 Piratas to get the win. RolandoValdez lasted just 2 innings and gave up 4 runs on 5 hits in the loss.

Valdez' 2 run home run in the 1st
Leones Facebook

Jesus Valdez gave the Leones an early 2-0 lead when Ricardo Serrano singled with 2 outs and Valdez sent a pitch by Ricardo Valdez over the left field fence for a 2 run home run.

Carlos Colmenares drew a 2 out walk from Leones starter, Jonathan Castellanos, in the top of the 3rd and scored on a triple by Adan Velazquez to cut the lead to 2-1 Leones.

Israel Nunez led off the bottom of the 3rd with a single. Corey Wimberly was hit by a pitch and Jose Aguilar singled to load the bases with no outs. Ricardo Serrano hit into a 1-2-3 double play that caught Nunez at home. The Piratas decided to intentionally walk Jesus Valdez to reload the bases for Hector Gimenez. Gimenez made them pay for that decision by hitting a single that, with the help of a throwing error by the right fielder, cleared the bases and left Gimenez on second base. Yucatan took a 5-1 lead.

After a walk to Jaime Pedroza was erased on a double play grounder by Kevin Flores in the 6th inning, Israel Nunez doubled and scored on a single by Corey Wimberly. Wimberly was thrown out at second trying to advance on the throw but the Leones had a 6-1 lead and the pitching staff made the lead stand up over the remaining 3 innings

Jesus Valdez was 1 for 2 with a home run, 2 walks, 2 RBIs and a run scored, Israel Nunez 2 for 3 with a run scored, Ricardo Serrano 2 for 5, Kevin Flores 2 for 4 and Corey Wimberly 1 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored for Yucatan.

Adan Velazquez was 2 for 4 with the lone RBI for the Piratas.

Jonathan Castellanos/Leones Facebook

The Divisional Championship will begin on Friday the 28th of August with the Leones taking on the #2 seed Tigres de Quintana Roo, who beat the Guerreros de Oaxaca 6-3 in the other Zona Sur contest.

If the Leones should win that series, the LMB Championship series would be played in Merida.

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Tijuana 7, Mexico 6

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The upstart Toros de Tijuana (54-53 on the season and 16 1/2 games behind the 73-39 Diablos) won their biggest game of the year on Wednesday, eliminating the Diablos Rojos del Mexico in game 7 of the Zona Norte divisional playoffs.

The Toros scored 5 runs in the 3rd, for a 7-2 lead inning and held on to beat the Diablos 7-6.

Barry Enright (3-0) pitched 5 1/3 innings, giving up 5 runs on 8 hits while striking out 5 and allowing 4 home runs in getting the win for the Toros. The Tijuana used 4 relief pitchers for 2 innings before turning the game over to Mario Mendoza for the final 1 2/3 innings. Mendoza shut down the Diablos bats on no hits and no runs to get the save.

David Reyes lasted 2 1/3 innings, gave up 6 runs on 4 hits and walked 3 in the loss.

Dustin Martin HR in the 1st
Toros Facebook

Dustin Martin was 1 for 4 with a 2 run home run in the 1st for the Toros and Luis Suarez went 2 for 4 with a grand slam home run in the 3rd. Lew Ford was 3 for 5 with an RBI and 2 runs scored while Oscar Robles was 3 for 5 for Tijuana.

Jesus Fabela and Japhet Amador had home runs for the Diablos and Ivan Terrazas belted 2 more for Mexico on a 2 for 4 night at the plate with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Japhet Amador was 3 for 4 with an RBI for the Diablos. Terraza and Cyle Hankerd combined for 24 RBIs in the series but that wasn't enough to overcome the Toros.

The Toros will take on the Acereros de Monclova, who won 11-3 over the Saraperos in their Zona Norte divisional playoff in a series that begins on Friday the 28th of August.

Monclova 11, Saltillo 3

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The Acereros jumped in front of the Saraperos d Saltillo 9-0 after 4 innings and added 2 more runs in the 6th inning to top the Saraperos 11-3 in the Zona Norte divisional playoffs in front of 6,180 hometown fans. Monclova took the best of seven series 4 games to 3.

Juan Pena picked up the win, pitching 5 innings, allowing just 2 hits and striking out 1 while Michael Nix worked 3 1/3 innings and gave up 6 runs on 4 hits in the loss.

Monclova scored the 3 runs in the 2nd inning on 2 walks, a hit batter, a single and a sac fly by Carlos Penuelas for the 3-0 lead and the pitching staff did the rest.

Jose Ruiz was 2 for 3 with a 3 run home run, Hector Garanzuay 2 for 4 with an RBI, Brett Harper 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored and Eder Salcedo 1 for 2 with 2 RBIs for Monclova.

Jon Del Campo was 2 for 4 wit a 2 run home run in the 9th inning while Ramon Ortiz went 3 for 4 with a run scored for the Saraperos.

Monclova will take on the Toros de Tijuana in the Zona Norte Championship round of the playoffs beginning Friday the 28th of August in Monclova.

Quintana Roo 6, Oaxaca 3

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The Tigres put away the Guerreros de Oaxaca 6-3 in game 7 of their Zona Sur divisional playoffs to earn the right to play the Leones de Yucatan, in Merida, for the Zona Sur Championship beginning Friday the 28th of August.

Arturo Barradas picked up the win in relief of Tigre starter Carlos Bustamante, pitching 2 1/3 shutout innings and Ramon Ramirez notched his 3rd save of the playoffs. Rodolfo Aguilar took the loss, giving up 2 runs on 1 hit in 1/3 of an inning.

Carlos Gastelum was 3 for 4 with an RBI, Francisco Peguero 2 for 5 with 2 RBIs, Jorge Cantu 3 for 4 with an RBI and Greg Golson 3 for 5 with an RBI for the Tigres.

Mike Jacobs went 2 for4 with an RBI and a run scored, Ronny Cedeno 1 for 4 with an RBI and Jaime Brena 1 for 3 with an RBI in the loss for Oaxaca.

Campeche Shuts Out The Leones 5-0

TAKE GAME 4 AND EVEN SERIES AT 2-2

Evan Maclane / Leones Facebook

The #3, 4 and 5 hitters for the Piratas went a combined 8 for 12 at the plate with 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored as Campeche topped the Leones 5-0. The Piratas exploded for 5 runs in the fifth and their pitchers did the rest.

The bottom of the 5th started with a base on balls to Paul Leon who went to second on a sacrifice bunt. Adan Velazquez reached base on an error by the Leones second baseman that got Leon to third. A single by Alfredo Silverio scored Leon. Ronny Paulino singled to drive in Velazquez and CJ Retherford followed with a double to plate Silverio. Paulino and Retherford scored on a single by Roberto Lopez to give Campeche the 5-0 lead and would prove to be all the scoring in the game.

Evan Maclane, the winning pitcher, and 2 relievers held the Leones scoreless on 3 hits while striking out 5.

Alejandro Astorga/ Leones Facebook

Alejandro Astorga worked 4 1/3 innings for the Leones giving up 1 run on 5 hits but walked 4 and struck out just 1.

With the series now tied at 2 games each, the 5th game of the Zona Sur series will be played in Campeche on Sunday he 23rd of August with the winner taking a 3-2 lead back to Merida for game 6 on Tuesday, the 25th.

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Quintana Roo 6, Oaxaca 4

The Tigres de Quintana Roo evened their Zona Sur playoff series with the Guerreros de Oaxaca at two games apiece with the help of a 4 run 8th inning, good pitching and 3 Oaxaca errors in the 6-4 win.

Quintana Roo starter, Carlos Bustamante and 4 relief pitchers held the Guerreros to 4 runs on 7 hits while striking out 8.

Mike Jacobs led off the bottom of the 2nd inning with a solo home run to give Oaxaca an early 1-0 lead.

Jose Felix answered the Oaxaca home run with one of his own in the top of the 3rd to knot the score at one all.

After loading the bases in the bottom of the 7th, the Guerreros scored a run to retake the lead on a single by Erick Rodriguez but the Tigres pitchers were able to pitch out of the jam without further damage.

Alfredo Amezaga led off the 8th with a solo shot to right center for the Tigres and Quintana Roo broke the game open with 3 more runs in the inning with the help of 2 walks and 3 Guerreros errors for a 5-2 lead.

Both teams would score in the 8th and 9th innings but the Tigres prevailed in the game 6-4.

Jose Felix and Amezaga homered for the Tigres.

Alejandro Gonzalez was 2 for 4  with a home run and Mike Jacobs added a home run on a 1 for 2 night at the plate for Oaxaca.

Jesus Castillo got the win in relief with Ramon Ramirez notching his second save of the playoffs. Jose Ascanio was charged with a blown save and the loss for the Guerreros.

Jose Ascanio / Guerreros Facebook

The win ensures that the divisional playoffs will return to Cancun for game 6 and game 7 (if necessary) beginning on Tuesday the 25th of August.

Monclova 5, Saltillo 2

The Acereros de Monclova rode the bat of Francisco Cordoba, who went 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs, to a 3 games to 1 lead over the Saraperos de Saltillo in the Zona Norte divisional playoffs on Saturday.

Monclova scored 5 runs in the first 3 innings and let their pitching staff do the rest. The Acereros staff scattered 11 Saltillo hits and struck out 6.

Raul Barron picked up the win in relief, because starter Anthony Capra failed to complete 5 innings, and Juan Noriega notched his second save. Jorge Ibarra gave up 5 runs on 3 hits in 2 1/3 innings for the loss. Ibarra was charged with 1 earned run as the Saraperos defense committed 2 errors behind him.

Cordoba had a 2 run home run in the 2nd for Monclova.

Ramon Ortiz was 2 for 5 with an RBI for Saltillo.

Monclova has an opportunity to take the Zona Norte playoffs in game 6. in Saltillo, on Sunday the 23rd f August.

Tijuana 5, Mexico 1

Jason Urquidez
LMB.com

Jason Urquidez, the Toros starter, held the Diablos to just 1 hit and 1 run over 6 innings to get the win, 5-1, and even the Zona Norte divisional playoff series at 2 games each.

The Toros pitching staff held the 2014 LMB Champions, and winners of 73 regular season games in 2015, to just 3 hits while walking 5 and striking out 6.

The Diablos drew 2 walks in the second inning and scored their only run on a single by Jesus Lopez that drove in Cyle Hankerd. Mexico would not threaten again.

Lew Ford doubled and scored on a single by Jose Chavez in the 5th, Miguel Olivo doubled and scored on a sac fly by Carlos Valencia to take the lead in the 6th and the Toros scored 3 times in the 7th to seal the win.

Arturo Lopez pitched 6 innings for the Diablos and gave up 2 runs on 7 hits to take the loss.

Eduardo Arredondo was 3 for 3 with a run scored and Lew Ford 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored for the Toros.

Jesus Lopez went 2 for 4 with the lone RBI for the Diablos and pinch hitter Samar Leyva had the other hit for Mexico.

The win on Saturday ensures the playoffs ill return to Mexico City on Tuesday the 25th of August with the winner of game 5 on Sunday will hold a 3-2 edge in games. 

Yucatan Smothers Campeche 9-2

Opening ceremonies in Campeche
Leones Facebook

The Leones pounded out 14 hits, including 5 home runs in their 9-2 win over the Piratas de Campeche in game 3 of their Zona Sur divisional playoffs. Ricardo Serrano had 2 home runs on the night.

Jesus Valdez hit a solo home run to left to lead off the top of the 2nd for the Leones. Luis Garcia drew a one out walk but was erased on a 4-6 fielders choice. Kevin Flores followed with a 2 run home run to left center that scored Ricardo Serrano and put the Leones up 3-0. Israel Nunez hit a 3-2 fastball over the wall in left for the third home run of the inning and a 4-0 Yucatan lead.

Corey Wimberly led off the top of the 5th with a single and moved to second on a two strike sacrifice bunt by Jaime Pedroza that caught the Piratas defense napping. Wimberly scored on a single by Jose Aguilar to increase the Leones lead to 5-0.

Ricardo Serrano hit the first of his two home runs leading off the 6th inning to give Yucatan a 6-0 lead.

The Piratas scored in their half of the 6th. Fernando Flores led off the inning with a walk and went to third, one out later, on a ground rule double to right center by Carlos Colmenares. Oscar Verdugo replaced starter Jonathan Castellanos for the Leones. Adan Velazquez reached safely on a throwing error by the Yucatan shortstop as Flores scored the first Piratas run of the game. One out later, Verdugo threw a wild pitch that allowed Colmenares to score. Ronny Paulino hit a grounder to third for the final out of the inning but Campeche had scored twice and the score was 6-2 Leones.

Yucatan scored a run without benefit of a hit in the top of the 8th. Israel Nunez drew a lead off walk, went to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on consecutive wild pitches by the Piratas reliever Ivan Salas. Leones 7, Piratas 2.

Jesus Valdez singled to lead off the 9th for Yucatan and came around to score on Ricardo Serrano's  second home run of the game for a 9-2 Leones lead.

With one out in the Piratas half of the 9th and a man on first, closer Adam Reifer made three attempts to pick off the runner at first. Why, with a 9-2 lead, would Leones manager Wilfredo Romero order three pick off attempts? The third throw went wide and the runner advanced to third. No harm was done as the next to Pirata hitters made outs but the logic of the situation eludes me.

Jonathan Castellanos
Leones Facebook

Jonathan Castellanos allowed 2 runs on 3 hits while striking out 6 in 5 1/3 innings to pick up the win for Yucatan. Rolabdo Valdez gave up 3 home runs and 5 earned runs in 4 innings to take the loss for the Piratas.

Jesus Valdez went 3 for 4 with a home run, Ricardo Serrano 2 for 3 with 2 home runs and 3 RBIs, Kevin Flores 1 for 5 with a home run and Israel Nunez 1 for 3 with a home run for the Leones.

Yucatan holds a 2-1 lead in the divisional series which continues on Saturday in Campeche.

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Saltillo 3, Monclova 1
The Saraperos de Saltillo scored all of their runs in the bottom of the 3rd and held on to top the Acereros de Monclova 3-1 and take game 3 of their Zona Norte divisional series.

Michael Nix allowed 2 hits and 1 run while walking 3 and striking out 4 Acereros in 5 complete innings on the hill. Robert Suarez recorded the save, striking out 3 in 1 1/3 innings of work. Juan Pena gave up 3 runs on 7 hits in the loss.

Christian Zazueta was 1 for 4 with a home run and 2 RBIs while Jonathan Aceves and Jose Lopez were 2 for 3 for Saltillo. Manny Rodriguez went 2 for 4 for Saltillo.

Antonio Lamas, Jose Amador and Eder Salcedo each had a hit for Monclova and Olmo Rosario scored their only run.

Game 4 will be played in Saltillo on Saturday with the Acereros holding a 2-1 lead in the best of seven series.

Quintana Roo 5, Oaxaca 3
The Tigres got 6 solid innings of work from starter Daniel Cabrera, who got the win, and Quintana Roo won game 3 of their Zona Sur series with the Guerreros by a 5-3 score.

Daniel Cabrera / Tigres Facebook

Ramon Ramirez picked up the save. Ruddy Acosta gave up 4 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks in 4 1/3 for the loss. The defense behind Acosta was deplorable as the Guerreros committed 4 errors in the game.

After singling to lead off the 4th for the Tigres, Esteban Quiroz would score on a single by Sergio Contreras. Following a sacrifice bunt by Francisco Peguero and an intentional walk to Alfredo Amezaga, Jose Felix singled to drive in Jorge Cantu, Contreras and Amezaga. A throwing error by the Guerrereos center fielder allowed the third run to score and Felix wound up on third. The 4-1 lead would be enough for the Tigres.

Sergio Contreras was 2 for 4, Esteban Quiroz 2 for 5 and Jose Felix 1 for 4 with 2 RBIs for Quintana Roo.

Yancarlo Angulo was 2 for 4 with 2 doubles, an RBI and a run scored for Oaxaca.

The series continues on Saturday, in Oaxaca, with the Guerreros holding a 2-1 lead in the series

Tijuana 11, Mexico 4
the Toros scored 5 runs in the 1st inning and added 6 more runs in the 8th to gore the Diablos 11-4. The Toros victory brought them from down 2 games to none to 2-1 in the Zona Norte divisional series with the best team in the LMB.

Barry Enright improved to 2-0 in the playoffs, holding the Diablos to 3 runs on 5 hits over 6 1/3 innings and the Toros used four relievers to shut done the Diablos over the remaining 2 2/3 frames. The Diablos starter, David Reyes lasted just 2/3 of an inning and gave up 5 runs on 4 hits in taking the loss.

Eduardo Arredondo went 3 for 5 with a home run to lead off the game for Tijuana while teammate Luis Suarez was 3 for 4 with a double and a triple, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Lew Ford and Enrique were both 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs for the Toros.

Ivan Terrazas continued his hot hitting for the Diablos, going 3 for 4 with a home run and 2 RBIs to raise his  playoff batting average to .727. 

Leones Open Zona Sur Series With 7-1 Win Over Piratas

Watch the highlight video here.

Yucatan jumped out to an early 7-0 lead after 2 innings and Yoanner Negrin, with the help of 4 relief pitchers, did the rest as the Leones beat the Piratas 7-1 in the first game of a best of seven series.


Yoanner Negrin on the mound
Leones facebook

Corey Wimberly lead off the bottom of the 1st with a single and went to third on a single by Jaime Pedroza, who took second on the throw to third. Wimberly scored on a ground out and Pedroza scored on a single by Jesus Valdez. Hector Gimenez followed with a single to drive in Valdez, who had stolen second. Ricardo Serrano got Gimenez home with a single and the Leones led 4-0 after one inning.

Wimberly scores / Leones facebook

Israel Nunez started the 2nd for Yucatan with a bunt single down the third base line. Corey Wimberly and Jose Aguilar were both hit by pitches. The Leones had the bases loaded with one out. Jesus Valdez tripled to clear the bases and the Leones were up 7-0.

The Piratas remained scoreless until Paul Leon tripled with one out in the top of the 9th and scored on a ground ball out by Jason Alondo for the only Campeche run of the game.

Negrin worked 5 2/3 innings, scattering 6 hits and walking 2 while striking out 5 to get the win for Yucatan. Francisco Campos was roughed up for 7 runs on 7 hits in just 1 1/3 innings for the Piratas, to take the loss.

Jesus Valdez was 2 for 4 for the Leones with 4 RBIs while Jose Aguilar went 1 for 4 with an RBI and Hector Gimenez was 1 for 3 with and RBI.

The Piratas' Adan Velazquez was the bright spot in the Campeche lineup going 2 for 4 while Jasson Alondo drove in the teams only run.

These two teams meet again today, Wednesday the 19th of August, to continue the best of seven series. Thursday is a travel day and the series will pick up again on Friday the 21st of August in Campeche.
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Mexico 5, Tijuana 2

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Diablos Celebrate

Ivan Terrazas was 2 for 3 on the night and hit a 3 run home run in the bottom of the 5th for the Diablos as they took game 1 of the Zona Norte series with Tijuana by a 5-2 score. Sergio Gastelum scored a run on a 2 for 4 night at the late.

The Toros used 2 walks and a single by Luis Suarez to score Dustin Martin with their 1st run and a solo home run by Carlos Valencia in the 7th for their 2 runs. Suarez was 2 for 4 and Valencia 1 for 4 for the game.

Marcos Duarte got the win and Juan Sandoval earned the save for the Diablos. Fabio Castro started for the Toros and gave up 3 runs on 3 hits while walking 4 in 4 2/3 innings to take the loss.


Monclova 10, Saltillo 3

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The Saraperos pitching staff finished 14th in ERA in the league this year, giving up just over 5 runs a game. The Acereros made Saltillo pay for another poor showing, topping the Saraperos 10-3. Monclova leads the Zona Norte series 1-0

Josh Lowey wasn't as sharp as he has been but he scattered 7 hits over 6 innings to get the win. Lowey's only bad pitch of the night resulted in a 2 run home run by Refugio Cervantes in the top of the 1st inning to give the Saraperos their only lead of the game.

Francisco Cordoba blasted a 3 run home run for Monclova in the bottom of the 2nd as theAcereros took the lead and didn't look back, scoring in the 3rd, 6th, 7th and 8th for the 10-3 win.

Josh Lowey / LMB Website

Lowey got the win and Edgmer Escalona worked 5 1/3 innings giving up 7 runs to be saddled with the loss.

Francisco Cordoba, Jose Ruiz and Antonio Lamas homered for Monclova with Cordoba going 2 for 3 with 3 RBIS and 2 runs scored. Ruiz was 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs and Lamas 1 for 5 with 2 RBIs.

Refugio Cervantes was 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs while Justin Greene was 3 for 4 with a run scored for Saltillo.

Oaxaca 8, Quintana Roo 0

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The Guerreros used 11 hits to score 8 runs as Oaxaca took the 1st game of their Zona Sur playoff series with the Tigres 8-0.

Sergio Valenzuela / Guerreros Facebook

Sergio Valenzuela gave up just 4 hits to the Tigres in his 6 2/3 innings on the mound to pick up the win. 3 relievers worked the final 2 1/3 innings holding the Tigres hitless. Ramon Ortiz lasted just 4 innings in the loss, giving up 5 runs on 6 hits.

Erick Rodriguez, the Guerreros catcher, was 3 for 4 on the night with an RBI and 2 runs scored while Alan Sanchez was 1 for 5 with 2 RBIs and Ronny Cedeno went 2 for 4 with an RBI



Video highlights courtesy of the LMB and ITV