Venados Double Up Tomateros 6-3

LEAGUE LEADING MAZATLAN IMPROVES TO 10-6 ON THE YEAR

Brian Hernandez

Sherman Johnson got things going for Mazatlan in the bottom of the 1st with a single and went to second on a wild pitch, With one out, Brian Hernandez singled to right to score Johnson for the 1-0 lead.

Singles by Luis Cruz and Issmael Salas in the top of the 4th put runners on the corners with 1 out for Culiacan. A ground out scored Cruz and a double by Ronnier Musteleir scored Salas as the Tomateros took a 2-1 lead.

Alex Liddi doubled to lead off the bottom of the 5th for the Venados. Samar Leyva singled to put runners at the corners with no outs. Following a strikeout, Kenny Wilson drew a 4 pitch base on balls to load the bases. With 2 outs, Edson Garcia singled to right to score Liddi and Leyva to give Mazatlan a 3-2 lead. The Venados would add a run in the 6th to increase their lead to 4-2.

A single, a walk and a sacrifice bunt had runners on second and third for the Tomateros in the top of the 7th. Pinch hitter Henry Ramos ground out 4-3  to score Antonio Lamas, as Culiacan cut the lead to 4-3.

With one out in the bottom of the 7th, Hernandez doubled to score Johnson for the 5-3 lead and Jesus Fabela singled to score Hernandez for the final 6-3 win for Mazatlan.

Walter Silva

Walter Silva (1-0) picked up the win in relief and Evan Marshall earned his 5th save of the season. Daniel Rodriguez (0-2) worked 4 2/3 innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits in taking the loss for the 7-9 Tomateros.

Hermosillo Overpowers Culiacan 8-3

JOSE CARDONAS 3 RUN HOME RUN IN 8TH PUTS THE GAME AWAY

Hermosillo scratched out a 5-3 lead after the 7th inning, scoring single runs in five separate innings before breaking the game open with 3 runs in the 8th that gave them the lead for good.

Jose Cardona

With 2 outs in the inning and 2 men on base, Jose Cardona hit a 2-1 fastball on a line drive to left for a 3 run home run that put the Naranjeros up 8-3.

Kyle Finnegan and Heriberto Ruelas held the Tomateros to 1 hit, while striking out 5, over the final 2 1/3 innings to preserve the win. Hermosillo improves to 3-6 on the year while Culiacan fell to 5-4. 

The meat of the Hermosillo order, the 4 through 7 hitters, were a combined 9 for 19 (.562) with 6 RBIs and 4 runs scored. Cardona was 3 for 5 with the home run. Jose Amador and Danny Espinosa also hit home runs for the Naranjeros.

Josh Smith (1-1) picked up the win in relief giving up a run on 3 hits over 4 2/3 innings on the mound while the Culiacan starter, Daniel Rodriguez (0-1) took the loss.

12,130 fans came out to Estadio de los Tomateros in Culiacan on a cloudy night to see the game that didn't end until 11:28 PM local time. 

Mexicali Overwhelms Mayos 10-1

4 RUN 1ST INNING PORTENDS OF THINGS TO COME

The Aguilas de Mexicali batted around in the bottom of the 1st inning, sending 9 men to the plate and scoring 4 runs on 4 hits with 2 walks thrown in for good measure. All the runs were scored with 2 outs as the Mayos de Navojoa faced the offensive juggernaut that was awakened in the late innings of game 1.

Aguilas Score 2

CJ Retherford's double to deep center field was the big blow of the inning, driving in Luis Juarez and Yuniesky Betancourt for a quick 2-0 lead. After a walk to Wellington Dotel on a wild pitch, Retherford scored on a single by Ricky Alvarez with Dotel moving to third. Dotel scored on a single to center by Xorge Carrillo and the Aguilas led 4-0.

Carrillo led off the bottom of the 4th with a double and scored one out later on a single to right by Chris Roberson. After Walter Ibarra flew out to center, Luis Juarez singled to score Roberson. Betancourt singled to put runners on first and second. Retherford walked to load the bases. Dotel singled to left to score Juarez and Betancourt and Mexicali had an 8-0 lead after 4 innings.

Daniel Rodriguez, the Aguilas starter, held the Mayos hitless through 4 innings but lost the no hitter and the shutout when Jose Amador hit a 2-2 fastball over the wall in left center for a solo home run that cut the Mexicali lead to 8-1. Rodriguez picked up the win, giving up the one run on 1 hit while walking 1 and striking out 7 over 6 innings of work.

Jorge Castillo, the Mayos starter, lasted just 2/3 of an inning allowing 4 runs on 4 hits with 2 walks in being charged with the loss.

The Aguilas scored single runs in the 5th and 6th to put the game away with the final score of 10-1.

Luis Juarez was 2 for 4 on the night with an RBI and 2 runs scored. Betancourt, 2 for 4 with an RBI and 3 runs scored. CJ Retherford went 1 for 3 with the 2 run double, Dotel 1 for 2 with 2 RBIs and 2 walks and Xorge Carrillo was 2 for 3 with an RBI and 2 runs scored for the Aguilas.

Nate Tenbrink, Genaro Andrade and Quincy Latimore were all 1 for 3 for Navojoa. Jose Amador went 1 for 4 with the home run.

The Aguilas, counting the sweep of the Charros in round 1, are 6-0 in the playoffs. Game 3 will be played on Wednesday in Navojoa with Mexicali staked to a 2 games to none lead in the semifinal round. The winner of this series will face the winner of the Yaquis/Venados series for the LMP Championship.

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