Monterrey Scores Early and Hangs on to Defeat Oaxaca 3-2 in Game 4

SULTANES TAKE 3 GAMES TO 1 LEAD IN SERIE DEL REY CHAMPIONSHIP

Dallas Martinez

Dallas Martinez of the Sultanes and Jose Carlos Medina of the Guerreros squared off in the 4th game of the Serie del Rey with Martinez out dueling Medina in a thrilling 3-2 win for Monterrey.

Martinez threw 6 innings of 4 hit ball without giving up a run, walking 2 and striking out 3 in getting the win. Medina scattered 7 hits over 7 innings of work, walking 1 and striking out 2. The top of the 2nd would spell the downfall of Medina when he would give up 5 of those 7 hits and commit a throwing error.

Jose Amador lead of the top of the 2nd with a double and went to third on a single by Chris Roberson. Ramon Rios then singled to right to score Amador and put runners on first and second with no outs. Sebastian Elizalde hit a bouncer back to the mound but a throwing error by Medina allowed Roberson to race home with the 2nd run of the inning. Monterrey had runners on second and third with no outs and a 2 run lead. After Ali Solis flew out to right for the 1st out, Julio Borbon singled to left to score Rios for the 3-0 Sultanes lead.

Sebastian Elizalde

With 1 out in the bottom of the 7th inning, Alan Sanchez singled to right and scored on a triple to center by Samar Leyva. A passed ball by the Sultane's catcher allowed Leyva to score and cut the lead to 3-2. Oaxaca put men on first and second with 1 out but Jay Austin ground into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

The Monterrey relievers would hold the Guerreros scoreless over the final two innings and The Sultanes held on for the 3-2 win.

The Sultanes take a 3 games to 1 lead in their quest for the Copa Zaachila in the Serie del Rey. Game 5 will be played in Oaxaca on Sunday the 7th of October with game 6 (if necessary) in Monterrey on Tuesday the 9th of October.

It should be noted that only 2 teams have come back from a 3 games to 1 deficit (or 3-0) since 1970 in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol. The 1971 Algodoneros de Guasave (now the Charros de Jalisco)were down 3 games to 1 and defeated the Diablos Rojos del Mexico 4-3. Those same Diablos fell behind the Tigres de Angelopolis 3 games to none and came back to win 4 games to 3.

But despite history, baseball aficionados will always say..."That's why we play the game"!

Sultanes With Thrilling Win, 7-6, Over Guerreros in Game 2 of Serie del Rey

FELIX PEREZ' WALK OFF HOME RUN WINS IT!

Felix Perez

The Sultanes de Monterrey, who had been held in check by the Guerreros pitchers for 17 innings, broke loose for 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to win game 2 of the Serie del Rey 7-6 and even the series at 1 game apiece.

Oaxaca scored 4 times in the top of the 3rd, aided by a 2 run home run by Alan Sanchez for a 5-2 lead. The Guerreros seemed to have a comfortable lead after adding a run in the 5th to make the score 6-2.

The Sultanes, who had looked listless and at times confused at the plate eked out 2 runs in their half of the 5th to cut the lead to 6-4 but it took a 2 out fielding error by the Guerreros third baseman that allowed a run to extend the inning.

Wirfin Obispo, on in relief for Monterrey, gave up a hit in the top of the 9th but struck out 2 to set up the 9th inning heroics for the Sultanes.

Carlos Felix, the Guerreros closer, on to pitch the 9th got pinch hitter Victor Mendoza to ground out to third for the first out. Julio Borbon stroked a single to right putting a runner at first. Ramiro Pena skyed out to center for out number 2.

After a lengthy mound visit by the Guerreros' manager, Agustin Murillo took the 1st pitch he saw from Felix deep to left for the 2 run home run that tied the game at 6 all. The home run by Murillo was his 1st hit of the series.

Agustin Murillo

The next batter, Felix Perez, sent the capacity crowd home dancing, singing and cheering when he launched a walk off home run to right to give Monterrey the 7-6 win. Perez' home run won the game but Murillo's home run woke up the team and the crowd.

The Sultanes pitchers gave up 12 hits and 6 runs early but they buckled down when it counted giving up 3 hits and no runs while striking out 5 Oaxaca batters over the last 4 innings.

Wirfin Obispo was the benefactor of Perez' heroics as he was credited with the win while Carlos Felix was charged with a blown save and the loss for Oaxaca.

The series moves to Oaxaca for games 3, 4 and 5 and after a day of travel resumes on Friday the 5th of October. 

Pitching Subdues Leones Bats In 9-1 Loss To Oaxaca

Sergio Valenzuela / Guerreros Facebook

The Guerreros de Oaxaca got some very good pitching from starter Sergio Valenzuela in their 9-1 victory over the Leones de Yucatan. Five of their twelve hits went for extra bases including two doubles, a triple and two home runs as the hometown Guerreros defeated the Leones in front of 2,644 spirited fans at Parque Eduardo Vasconcelos.

Oaxaca jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st on a walk to Jaime Brena and a 2 run home run over the wall in right center by Mike Jacobs.

The Guerreros added to their lead in the bottom of the 2nd when Erick Rodriguez singled and Luis Medina drew a base on balls. Both runners scored on a triple by Alan Sanchez to up the lead to 4-0. After Yancarlo Angulo was hit by a pitch, Mike Jacobs singled to drive in Sanchez and move Angulo to third. Oaxaca lead was 5-0 after two innings.

Luis Medina led off the bottom of the 4th with a single for Oaxaca. following a single by Alan Sanchez and a fielder's choice by Jaime Brena, Medina scored on a sac fly to center by Yancarlo Angulo to increase the Guerreros lead to 6-0.

Jose Aguilar hit a solo home run for the Leones in the top of the 6th for Yucatan's first and only run of the game to cut the lead to 6-1 Oaxaca.

The Guerreros put two men on with no outs in their half of the 6th. Luis Medina scored on a double by Jaime Brena to up the Oaxaca lead to 7-1.

Luis Medina at the plate / Guerreros Facebook

Jaime Brena led off the bottom of the 8th inning for Oaxaca getting hit by a pitch. Brena scored in front of Yancarlo's home run deep left center, a drive of over 385'. The Guerreros led 9-1, the eventual winning score.

Yancarlo Angulo / Guerreros Facebook

Luis Mendez worked the 8th and 9th innings for Oaxaca, giving up 3 hits and no runs while striking out 3 Leones preserving the win for Sergio Valenzuela (1-1). Valenzuela gave up 1 run on 5 hits over 7 innings of work and striking out 4. Jesus Rodriguez (1-1) lasted just 1 2/3 innings for the Leones allowing 5 runs on 5 hits in the loss.

Alan Sanchez was 3 for 5 with 2 RBIs, Mike Jacobs 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs, Yancarlo Angulo 1 for 3 with 3 RBIs and Luis Medina 3 for 3 with 3 runs scored for the Guerreros.

Jose Aguilar was 1 for 4 on the night with a home run for the Leones and Ivan Araujo 2 for 4 in the loss.

IN OTHER LMB ACTION:

Ciudad del Carmen 4, Tabasco 2 (1st Game)
The Delfines scored 3 runs in the top of the 7th on a solo home run by Carlos Ibarra and a 2 run scoring single by Henry Rodriguez to beat the Olmecas in the 1st of 2 seven inning games to make up for the rainout on Wednesday. Rodriguez was 1 for 2 with 2 RBIs and Ibarra went 1 for 3 with the home run for del Carmen. Wilson Batista went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs for the Olmecas. Demetrio Gutierrez (3-1) picked up the win while Luis Ayala (1-2) had a blown save and took the loss.

Tabasco 3, Ciudad del Carmen 2 (2nd Game)
The Olmecas built a 3-2 lead by the end of the 3rd and outlasted the Delfines by that score. Adan Amezcua doubled to drive in 2 for del Carmen while Jose Castillo went 1 for 2 with an RBI and Christian Quintero was 2 for 2 with 2 RBIs for Tabasco. Amilcar Gaxiola (1-1) got the win and Armando Rodriguez the save for the Olmecas. Baudel Zambrano (0-3) took the loss for the Delfines.

Aguascalientes 3, Monterrey 2
Julian Castro singled to score Saul Soto and Domingo Castro singled to drive in Rene Reyes in the top of the 2nd for a two run lead and the Rieleros won their 6th game in a row as they beat the Sultanes 3-2. Orlando Lara (3-0) was credited with the win and Roy Corcoran notched his league leading 9th save of the season. Marco Tovar (0-1) suffered the loss. Saul Soto went 2 for 4 with an RBI for the Rieleros and drove in his league best 31st run. max Ramirez was 2 for 3 with a home run and 2 RBIs for Monterrey.

Saltillo 5, Tamaulipas 1
Jesus Sanchez (1-0) scattered 6 hits over 6 innings of shutout ball to get the win for the Saraperos and Edgmer Escalona got his 1st save of the year. Paul Oseguera (1-1) took the loss. Luis Borges, Christian Zazueta and Jesus Cota were all 2 for 4 for Saltillo. Frank Diaz went 3 for 5 while Rodolfo Amador and Cole Garner were both 2 for 5 for the Broncos.

Quintana Roo 9, Puebla 5
Alfredo Amezaga hit a grand slam in the top of the 9th for the Tigres and although the Pericos scored 3 runs in their half of the 9th it wasn't enough as the Tigres beat Puebla 9-5 and maintained their lead in the Southern Division. Lead off hitter Justin Christian was 2 for 4 for the Tigres with 2 RBIs. Amezaga was 2 for 4 with 4 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Miguel Tejada went 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs for the Pericos. Pablo Ortega (5-0) earned the win while Hector Galvan (3-1) took the loss.

Campeche 7, Veracruz 0
Francisco Campos (2-3) pitched 6 innings of shutout baseball to get the win over the Aguilas 7-0. Tomas Solis (1-2) took the loss. Adan Velazquez was 1 for 3 with 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored and Dave Sappelt 1 for 4 with 2 RBIs for the Piratas. The Aguilas managed just 2 hits off of 4 Pirata pitchers.

Mexico 11, Monclova 8
Japhet Amador hit 2 home runs in his 1st game back from the disabled list on a 2 for 4 night with 4 RBIs for the Diablos. Monclova was trailing 11-3 heading into the 8th inning and left the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th in the loss. Ivan Terrazas was 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs and Carlos Figueroa 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs for Mexico. Travis Garcia went 2 for 4 with a home run and 3 RBIs while Francisco Cordoba went 1 for 4 with a home run and 3 RBIs for the Acereros. Yair Lozoya (3-1) got the win and Justin Klipp (0-2) took the loss.

Tijuana 3, Laguna 2
Enrique Trujillo scored on a single by Luis Suarez in the top of the 9th and Ramon Ramirez (2-0) picked up the win in relief as the Toros downed the Vaqueros 3-2. Johan Yan (1-2) was saddled with the loss. Eduardo Arredondo went 4 for 5 with an RBI and Suarez was 2 for 5 with 2 RBIs for Tijuana. Angel Berroa had a home run and 2 RBIs for Laguna.