Saraperos de Saltillo Top Sultanes de Monterrey 7-6 In Torneo de Tequila

Torneo de Tequila in Guadalajara

Spring training baseball came to Guadalajara for the 1st annual Torneo de Tequila played over the last two weekends. 6 teams from the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol participated in the tourney. The Rieleros de Aguascalientes won the tournament but there were some exciting games played.

On Sunday the 22nd, the Saraperos de Saltillo outlasted the Sultanes de Monterrey 7-6 in a game that saw 27 hits, a home run, 3 triples and 5 double plays. Throw in a hit batter, 5 walks and some sloppy base running and the game was fun for the fans to watch.

The Sultanes used 7 pitchers while the Saraperos sent 5 to the mound. Adrian Garza took the loss for Monterrey while Armando Rodriguez gained the victory for the Saraperos.


Monterrey pitcher

Saltillo started the scoring in the 1st inning on a double by Luis Terrero and an RBI single by Refugio de Cervantes.

Monterrey took the lead in the bottom of the 1st on a single, a double and a single, by the Sultanes Designated Hitter, that scored 2 and gave the Sultanes a 2-1 lead.

In the top of the 2nd, with runners on first and second and 2 outs, Christian Zazueta tripled to deep left center to clear the bases and put the Saraperos back on top at 3-2.

4 singles and a walk helped the Sultanes score 3 runs in the bottom of the 5th as Monterrey retook the lead 5-3. There could have been more runs scored. With the bases loaded and 1out, a fly ball to left scored the 3rd run of the inning but the runne

r on second tagged up trying to advance to third. The Saraperos center fielder wisely threw to the cut off man who tagged the runner going to third for an inning ending double play.

The Saraperos put two men on base in the top of the 7th on a walk and a single. Rufino Candelario lined a shot to the right field corner that scored a run and when the right fielder bobbled the ball, Candelario headed to second as the second run scored. The throw from right field got away from the second baseman and headed to left field. The Sultanes third baseman and shortstop chased down the errant throw leaving third base uncovered. Candelario used some heads up base running as he easily took third on the fielding miscue by the Sultanes.

Jonathan Aceves, in for the starting Saraperos catcher, led off the top of the 8th with a booming home run to left that nearly cleared the outfield stands. The ball traveled close 400 feet. The solo home run gave Saltillo a 6-5 lead.

Following a one out triple in the top of the 9th, Rufino Candelario singled to drive in his 3rd RBI of the game and stake the Saraperos to a 7-5 lead.

One of three triples on the day



The Sultanes staged a comeback in the bottom of the 9th on a lead off double and two ground balls to short. The second ground out, by Ramon Rios, drove in the sixth run for Monterrey but it wasn't enough as the next batter hit a high fly ball to the Saraperos second baseman that ended the game and gave the Saraperos de Saltillos a 7-6 victory.

Mexicali Overpowers Charros 8-1 to Take Series 3 Games to 2

The Aguilas de Mexicali overpowered the Charros 8-1 in the third game of the three game series behind the strong pitching of Javier Solano and four relievers. Solano gave up just 1 hit in six innings with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts. Reliever Adrian Garza gave up the only Charros run in the top of the 9th. Ben Koslowski took the loss for Jalisco, giving up 5 runs on 8 hits in five innings.

The Aguilas scored a run in the bottom of the 3rd on a lead off double by Gil Velazquez and a single by Chris Roberson for the 1-0 Mexicali lead.

The Aguilas would score two more in the bottom of the 5th. Walter Ibarra singled and went to second on a walk to Dave Sappelt. Mike Jacobs singled to score Ibarra and Sappelt scored on a ground out to short by Luis Juarez. The Aguilas had a 3-0 lead.

Gil Velazquez led off the 6th for Mexicali by drawing a walk. Chris Roberson also waited out a walk and Mexicali had runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Ken Sigman replaced Kozlowski on the mound for Jalisco and walked Walter Ibarra to load the bases. Dave Sappelt singled to score Valezquez and Roberson. After Carlos Vazquez replaced Sigman, Luis Juarez hit a ground ball to third  that scored Ibarra. Xorge Carrillo doubled to score Juarez and the Aguilas led 7-0.

Mexicali scored again in the bottom of the 7th when Gil Velazquez doubled and scored on a ground out to second by Walter Ibarra for the 8th run in the game for Mexicali.

The Charros threatened in the top of the 9th. Leo Heras walked and after Japhet Amador popped up to the catcher, Cory Vaughn walked. Marquez Smith singled to load the bases with one out. Jose Felix singled to score Heras but Jesus Lopez struck out and Amadeo Zazueta grounded out to the pitcher to end the game