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.

IN OTHER LMB PLAYOFF ACTION

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. 

Leones Take 2 of 3 from Monclova with 6-1 Win

Alejandro Astorga courtesy Leones Facebook

Alejandro Astorga (3-1) shut out the Acereros through 6 1/3 innings on 4 hits while striking out 4. Eder Llamas and Anthony Ortega struck out 2 and allowed 3 hits over the last 2 2/3 innings in the Leones 6-1 victory over Monclova. Sasagi Sanchez (1-2) took the loss for the Acereros.

Yucatan scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 5th. Luis Garcia led off with a single and moved to second on a single by Jesus Valdez. Willy Aybar doubled to deep left center to score both Garcia and Valdez. Ricardo Serrano doubled to center to drive in Aybar. Kevin Flores singled moving Serrano to third. Serrano scored on a sac fly by Israel Nunez. Two batters later, Ivan Araujo tripled to center to plate Flores and the Leones led 5-0.

Ayabar Scores courtesy Leones Facebook

Kevin Flores and Isreal Nunez singled to lead off the 7th inning for Yucatan. After a fly ball out to left, Ivan Araujo drew a walk to load the bases. Following a pitching change by the Acereros, relief pitcher Jose Gallego uncorked a wild pitch to score Flores to increase the Leones lead to 6-0.

Monclova scored in the top of the 9th inning. Olmo Rosario singled with one out and went to third on a double by Jose Ruiz. The Leones reliever, Anthony Ortega, threw a wild pitch that scored Rosario but Travis Garcia struck out to end the game with the score 6-1 Leones.

Willy Aybar was 1 for 4 with a 2 run double, Ivan Araujo 1 for 2 with a run scoring triple, Jesus Valdez 3 for 4 and Kevin Flores 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored for Yucatan.

Jose Ruiz went 2 for 4 for the Acereros who were held to 7 hits and struck out 6 times. Monclova did not score until the top of the 9th.

IN OTHER LMB ACTION:

Oaxaca 7, Mexico 3
The Guerreros built a 7-2 lead over the Diablos after 5 innings. the Diablos scored a run in the bottom of the 9th on a double and a single but it wasn't enough as Oaxaca held on to win 7-3. Alejandro Soto (2-1) went 6 innings for the win and Juan Pablo Oramas (1-1) took the loss.

Saltillo 12, Veracruz 4
The Saraperos scored 4 times in the 1st and 4 more in the 5th to put the game away over the Aguilas 12-4. Luis Borges was 3 for 5 with an RBI, Ramon Orantes 3 for 3 with a home run and 4 RBIs and Carlos Alvarez 3 for 5 with 4 RBIs for Saltillo. Jeremias Pineda went 2 for 3 with a home run, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored for Veracruz.

Campeche 4, Tamaulipas 1
Up 3-0 after 3 innings the Piratas went on to beat the Broncos 4-1. Jorge Castillo (2-1) picked up the win and Ricardo Gomez recorded his 5th save of the year for Campeche. Jesus Carrillo (0-2) took the loss. DH Ruben Mateo was 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs for the Piratas and Travis Denker went 2 for 4 with a home run for the Broncos.

Aguascalientes 2, Tabasco 1
Jesus Castillo, who went 2 for 4 on the night, homered in the 1st for the Rieleros and a run scoring single by Julian Castro in the 2nd, offset a 5th inning solo home run by the Olmeca's Jose Castaneda to win 2-1. Fredy Quintero (2-0) got the win  and Roy Corcoran his 7th save for the Rieleros. Leo Medrano (1-2) was saddled with the loss.

Ciudad del Carmen 7, Monterrey 4
The Delfines built a 7-1 lead after 6 innings and survived a 3 run rally in the 9th by the Sultanes to beat Monterrey 7-4. Henry Rodriguez was 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs and Carlos Morales 3 for 4 with an RBI for del Carmen. Heber Gomez went 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs for the Sultanes. Sergio Mora (1-2) got the win and Alfredo Aceves (0-1) took the loss.

Puebla 7, Tijuana 3
The Pericos scored 3 times in the 4th to best the Toros 7-3. Jon Del Campos was 2 for 5 with 2 RBIs and Luke Scott 1 for 3 with a 2 run home run and 3 RBIs for Puebla. Roman Pena went 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored and Abel Martinez 2 for 2 with an RBI for Tijuana. Lauro Ramirez (1-1) got the win while Terance Marin (1-2) suffered the loss.

Quintana Roo 11, Laguna 3
5 runs in the 1st was enough for the Tigres to beat the Vaqueros but they didn't stop there on their way to an 11-3 win. Rafael Perez (2-1) was credited with the win while Yeiper Castillo (0-2) was the losing pitcher. The Tigres got 2 home runs and 4 RBIs from Carlos Valencia and a home run with3 RBIs from Jorge Cantu. Santiago Gonzalez went 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs for Laguna.

Leones de Yucatan Down Vaqueros de la Laguna 10-5

The Leones sent 11 men to the plate in the 6th inning and 7 of them scored as they swept past Laguna on their way to a 10-5 win at home.

Alejandro Astorga (2-1) walked 4 Vaqueros and struck out 5 in six innings on the mound to get the win for the Leones while Yeiper Castillo (0-1) was charged with the loss.

Jose Orozco led off the game for the Vaqueros and one out later scored on a double to right by JC Linares as Laguna took an early 1-0 lead.

Yucatan tied the score in the bottom of the 2nd when Luis Garcia doubled to center, advanced to third on a single by Jesus Valdez and scored on a sac fly by Willi Aybar.

With two outs in the Leones half of the 6th inning, Jose Aguilar was hit by a pitch and Hector Gimenez drew a 5 pitch walk. Following a pitching change for the Vaqueros, Luis Garcia singled to score Aguilar for the Leones first lead of the game. Jesus Valdez then singled to score Gimenez. Willy Aybar singled. Kevin Flores walked to score Garcia and the bases remained loaded. Ricardo Serrano doubled to drive in Valdez and Aybar. Israel Nunez singled to score Flores and Serrano. When the dust had cleared, Yucatan had an 8-1 lead.

The Leones upped their lead to 10-1 in the bottom of the 7th with a run scoring single by Willy Aybar and a bases loaded walk to Ricardo Serrano.

Laguna mounted a comeback in the top of the 8th inning. Jose Orozco led off the inning with a double. Juan Miranda and Angel Berroa walked and Francisco Mendez made the Leones pay by hitting a grand slam  to right to get the Vaqueros to within four runs at 10-6. The rally fell short as Said Gutierrez flew out to right to end the inning.

The Vaqueros put two men on in the 9th but were unable to score as Oscar Harper hit into a 5U-3 double play to end the game.

Willy Aybar went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs, Jesus Valdez was 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and Luis Garcia was 2 for 3 with an RBI for the Leones.

Jose Orozco was 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored while DH Francisco Mendez went 2 for 4 with the grand slam and 4 RBIs for Laguna.

IN OTHER LMB ACTION:

Mexico 6, Puebla 4 (10 innings)
Ruben Rivera hit a 2 run walk off home run in the bottom of the 10th as the Diablos beat the Pericos 6-4. Ivan Terrazas also homered for Mexico. Albert Carreon and Sandy Madera hit home runs for Puebla.

Tabasco 7, Saltillo 4 (13 innings)
The Olmecas scored 3 times in the top of the 13th and Yosshel Hurtado (1-0) shut down the Saraperos over the final two innings to get the win. Luis Durango was 4 for 6 with 3 runs scored for Tabasco. Christian Zazueta went 2 for 5 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored for Saltillo.

Aguascalientes 12, Veracruz 5
The Rieleros scored 12 runs on 10 hits to beat the Aguilas 12-5. Domingo Castro was 2 for 5 with 3 RBIs and Jesus Castillo went 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs for Aguascalientes. Issmael Salas was 2 for 4 with a home run and Jeremias Pinedo went 3 for 5 with 2 RBIs for Veracruz.

Quintana Roo 5, Monclova 4 (11 innings)
The Tigres got a lead off walk off home run by Justin Christian to beat the Acereros 5-4 in 11 innings. Christian was 2 for 6 on the night while Jorge Cantu went 4 for 5 for the Tigres. Jose Amador went 2 for 4 with a home run and 3 RBIs for Monclova.

Ciudad del Carmen 4, Tamaulipas 3 (10 innings)
The Delfines used a walk off hit by pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning to beat the Broncos 4-3. Alex Valdez was 2 for 3 with a home run for del Carmen. Randy Ruiz went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs for Tamaulipas.

Campeche 7, Monterrey 2
The Piratas scored 4 times in the bottom of the 7th to pull away from the Sultanes in the 7-2 victory. Paul Leon was 3 for 4 and Dave Sappelt 2 for 5 for Campeche. Asael Sanchez went 2 for 4 for Monterrey.

Oaxaca 8, Tijuana 2
Alejandro Soto (1-0) went 6 innings, giving up just 1 run on 2 hits as the Guerreros topped the Toros 8-2. Terance Marin (1-1) took the loss. Mario Valenzuela was 2 for 3 with a home run and 5 RBIs on the night for Oaxaca. Miguel Olivo was 1 for 4 with a home run and 2 RBIs for Tijuana.