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. 

Puebla Eliminated by Campeche in 3-2 Loss

PIRATAS TO FACE LEONES de YUCATAN ON TUESDAY

Watch the LMB highlights of the game here, courtesy of ITV and the LMB.

CJ Retherford scored from third on a single by Fernando Flores in the bottom of the 5th inning to break a 2-2 tie and the Piratas de Campeche went on to win the Zona Sur elimination game and keep their hopes of an LMB Championship alive.

The Piratas opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st when Adan Velazquez singled to left and scored on a double by Alfredo Silverio for the quick 1-0 Campeche lead.

Roberto Lopez, the Campeche 1st baseman, launched a lead off home run to left off of the Pericos starter, Hector Galvan, in the bottom of the 2nd inning to increase the Piratas lead to 2-0.

Puebla got a run back in the top of the 3rd inning on a solo home run by Miguel Tejada off of Evan Maclane, the Piratas starting pitcher.

Rolando Acosta drew a two out walk in the top of the 4th for Puebla and went to second on a sharply hit single to left by Mario Santana. Acosta scored when Roman Pena singled and when the Piratas failed to score in their half of the inning the score was tied at 2 all.

The Piratas took the lead in the 5th and 5 Campeche relief pitchers shut down the Pericos hitters on 1 hit over the final 3 1/3 innings, walking 1 and striking out 5. Evan Maclane got the win and Fernando Nieve recorded the save.

Edwin Salas took the loss for the Pericos, giving up 1 run on 1 hit while walking 2 and striking out 1 in his 1 1/3 innings on the mound.

Roberto Lopez was 1 for 1 with a home run and 2 walks for the Piratas while Fernando Flores added an RBI.

Miguel Tejada was 1 for 3 with a home run and an RBI while Mario Santana went 2 for 3 and Brent Clevlen was 2 for 4. Roman Pena drove in the other Pericos run.

The Piratas must get ready quickly as they travel to Merida on Tuesday to take on the Zona Sur champion Leones de Yucatan in a best of seven series to continue the LMB playoffs. The Guerreros de Oaxaca will be in Cancun to face the Tigres de Quintana Roo in the other Zona Sur series.

The Toros de Tijuana will face the Diablos Rojos del Mexico, in Mexico City and the Saraperos de Saltillo play the Acereros de Monclova, in Monclova for the Zona Norte playoffs.