Charros Drop Game 1 In Mexicali 6-2

Jalisco dropped the opening game of a three game set in Mexicali on Friday night by a 6-2 score. The turning point in the game happened in the 3rd inning when the Charros' relievers gave up 4 runs after getting the first two outs.

Mexicali started off the scoring in the bottom of the 1st. With two outs, Charros starter, Juan Delgadillo, issued a walk to Dave Sappelt who scored on a triple by Luis Juarez. The Aguilas jumped out to an early 1-0 lead.

Jalisco tied the game at 1all in the top of the 2nd on a solo home run by Jose Felix, his first of the year.

In the bottom of the third, Juan Delgadillo got the first two batters to fly out to center. At this point, Juan Navarrete brought in Charros reliever Ken Sigman to replace Delgadillo. Sigman immediately gave up a double to Josh Whitesell and a single to Humberto Cota that scored Whitesell. Sigman threw a wild pitch to move up the runner and then walked Ricardo Serrano. Chris Roberson followed the walk with a single to right that scored Cota. Manuel Flores was called on to relieve Sigman. Gil Velazquez doubled off Flores to drive in Serrano and Roberson. Justin Greene grounded out to third to end the inning but the damage was done. The Aguilas had a 5-1 lead after 3 innings.

The Aguilas scored again in the bottom of the 6th. With one out, Gil Velazquez singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Justin Greene. Walter Ibarra singled to plate Velazquez and Mexicali led 6-1.

Brendan Harris singled to lead off the 9th for Jalisco. Ivan Araujo entered the game as a pinch runner for Harris. Japhet Amador grounded out to first base moving Araujo to second. A wild pitch got Araujo to third and he came home on a single by Jose Felix. The Aguilas lead had been cut to 6-2 but the Charros would not score again and Mexicali had won the game.

Ken Sigman took the loss for Jalisco. Coming on in relief of starter Juan Delgadillo in the 3rd, Sigman gave up 4 runs on three hits and a walk without recording an out. In this game, manager Juan Navarrete deserves a loss too as he replaced Delgadillo too early. Navarrete has had the quick hook all year. Javier Solano got the win for Mexicali, his 5th of the year, throwing a 4 hitter through 7 innings of work.

Jose Felix had 2 RBIs and a run scored, including a home run while going 2 for 4. Edson Garcia was 1 for 3 and Brendan Harris went 2 for 2 with 2 walks. 

Charros Sweep Navojoa With 9-2 Win

Ben Kozlowski pitched 6 2/3 innings of 4 hit ball on the way to a 9-2 Charros victory over the Mayos de Navojoa. Jalisco swept the series to end the first half of the season at 21-14.

Kozlowski was followed by Antonio Garzon and Hugo Castellanos who preserved the win by holding the Mayos hitless over the final 2 1/3 innings.

Fernando Valenzuela led off the bottom of the 3rd for the Charros with a solo home run, his first of the year. Jesus Lopez then singled and took second on a wild pitch by the Navojoa starter, Irving Jimenez. Manny Rodriguez doubled to left to score Lopez for the 2-0 Jalisco lead.

Eduardo Arredondo drew a walk to lead off the 5th for the Charros and came around to score on Manny Rodriguez' fourth home run of the year, a two run shot to left. Leo Heras followed the home run with a double and scored on Japhet Amador's 2 run home run, his 10th of the year.

Navojoa, behind 6-0 entering the top of the 7th, loaded the bases on three straight singles. Carlos Bustamante grounded into a double play that scored John Lindsey with the first Mayo run. Alejandro Gonzalez singled to drive in Luis Fonseca with the second run of the inning to make the score 6-2 Charros.

Jalisco scored three times in the bottom of the 8th. Fernando Valenzuela singled to lead off. The Mayos went to reliever Gene Escat who threw a wild pitch that moved Valenzuela to second. Edson Garcia walked and Eduardo Arredondo singled to load the bases. Amadeo Zazueta grounded into a 4-2 fielder's choice that cut down Valenzuela at the plate. Leo Heras was safe on a throwing error by the Mayos third baseman that scored Arredono. Japhet Amador was intentionally walked and Marquez Smith hit a sac fly to center that scored Zazueta with the third run and the final 9-2 score.

Ben Kozlowski got the win to move to 1-2 on the year while Irving Jimenez took the loss to fall to 1-4 on the season.

Fernando Valenzuela was 3 for 3 on the night with a home run. Manny Rodriguez went 2 for 4 with a double, a home run and 3 RBIs. Japhet Amador had a home run and 2 RBIs in his four at bats. Brendan Harris was 2 for 4 and Leo Heras went 1 for 5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Rodriguez leads the league in doubles with 14. Amador is tied for the lead in home runs with 10 and leads the league in RBIs with 32.

The Charros end the first half of the season at 21-14. The Yaquis de Obregon team is the !st Half Champion with a 21-13  record, a half game ahead of the Charros.