Piratas Down Leones 4-2

TAKE A 3 GAMES TO 2 LEAD BACK TO MERIDA

Campeche starter Hector Velazquez and 4 relief pitchers held the Leones to 2 runs on 6 hits to win Sunday's game 4-2. Ozzie Mendez picked up the win in relief with Fernando Nieve recording his 3rd save of the playoffs. Francisco Rodriguez gave up 2 runs on 3 hits in 1/3 of an inning to take the loss for Yucatan.

Garcia scores for the Leones
Leones Facebook

Both starting pitchers kept the game scoreless until the 7th inning. The Leones scored first. Hector Gimenez singled to lead off the top of the 7th. Luis Garcia drew a base on balls. After Ricardo Serrano grounded into a fielder's choice and Kevin Flores popped out, pinch hitter Albino Contreras singled to right to score Garcia. Corey Wimberly was intentionally walked to load the bases with two outs. Jaime Pedroza singled to score Serrano but Contreras was thrown out at home on a perfect throw by the Piratas right fielder. The Leones had a 2-0 lead.

Campeche got those runs back and more in their half of the inning. Eliseo Aldazaba was hit by a pitch to lead off but was erased on a good 1-6 put out by the Leones starter, Yoanner Negrin. Lopez went to second on a single by Fernando Flores. Negrin was replaced on the mound by Francisco Rodriguez who walked pinch hitter Jesus Valenzuela on four pitches to load the bases with one out. After the second out, Roberto Valencia singled to right with Lopez and Flores scoring. Alfredo Silverio singled to drive in pinch runner Jasson Atondo and Ronny Paulino plated Valencia with a single for the Piratas final 4-2 win.

Jose Aguilar went 2 for 3 and Albino Contreras 1 for 1 with an RBI while Jaime Pedroza was 1 for 4 with an RBI for Yucatan.

Roberto Valencia was 1 for 1 as a pinch hitter, driving in 2, Alfredo Silverio 2 for 4 with an RBI, Roberto Lopez 2 for 3 with a run scored and Ronny Paulino 1 for 4 with an RBI for Campeche.

The Zona Sur divisional playoff between these two teams returns to Merida for game 6 on Tuesday the 25th of August and game 7, if necessary, Wednesday the 26th.

IN OTHER LMB PLAYOFF ACTION

Saltillo 4, Monclova 2

The Saraperos broke a 2-2 tie with the Acereros in the bottom of the 7th on solo home runs by Justin Greene and Manny Rodriguez on their way to a 4-2 win. They cut the Zona Norte divisional playoff lead by Monclova to 3 games to 2.

Monclova had opened the scoring with a solo home run by Brett Harper in the top of the 4th as the Acereros took a 1-0 lead.

Saltillo scored twice in the bottom of the 5th to take a 2-1 lead. Christian Zazueta singled and went to second on a hit batter. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a single by Justin Greene.

Antonio Lamas doubled for Monclova in the top of the 6th and scored on a single by Olmo Rosario to tie the game at 2 all before the Saraperos put the game away in the 7th.

Josh Lowey gave up all 4 runs to Saltillo in 6 2/3 innings on the mound. He allowed 8  and struck out 6 in the loss. Edgmer Escalona picked up the win for the Saraperos, going 7 innings, scattering 7 hits and allowing both Acereros runs. Robert Suarez picked up his 2nd save for Saltillo.

Justin Greene was 3 for 4 with a home run and 2 RBIs, Christian Zazueta 3 for 4, Refugio Cervantes 3 for 4 and Manny Rodriguez 1 for 4 with the home run for Saltillo.

Antonio Lamas went 2 for 4 and Brett Harper 1 for 4 with the home run for Monclova.

The series moves to Monclova for game 6 and game 7, if necessary, beginning on Tuesday the 25th of August.

Oaxaca 3, Quintana Roo 1

The Guerreros took a 3 games to 2 lead in the best of seven Zona Sur divisional playoffs against the Tigres by virtue of their 3-1 win over the Tigres on Sunday in Oaxaca.

Gonzalez' sacrifice bunt
Oaxaca Facebook

Alan Sanchez singled, as did Alejandro Ortiz to lead off  the bottom of the 3rd for Oaxaca. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a double by Ronny Cedeno. One out later, Yancarlo Angulo singled to score Cedeno and the Guerreros had all the runs they needed. They led 3-0.

Iker Franco led off the top of the 8th for the Tigres with a single, moved to second on a ground out and Angel Erro, a pinch runner for Franco, scored on a single by Carlos Gastelum for the final score of 3-1 Guerreros.

Sergio Valenzuela / Guerreros Facebook

Sergio Valenzuela went 7 1/3 innings to pick up the win for Oaxaca. He gave up 5 hits, 1 run and struck out 7. Manny Corpas pitched the final 1 1/3 innings to record the save. Ramon Ortiz gave up all 3 Guerreros runs on 9 hits to take the loss.

The series shifts to Cancun for game 6 and game 7, if necessary, beginning on Tuesday the 25th of August.

Tijuana 3, Mexico 1

Miguel Olivo hit a home run, with Oscar Robles on base to give the Toros a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st that would hold up as the Tijuana pitching staff held the Diablos to 3 hits to beat Mexico 3-1 and take game 5 of the Zona Norte divisional playoffs.

The series now heads back to Mexico City for game 6 on Tuesday the 25th of August with the wild card Toros, after sweeping the 3 games in Tijuana, holding a 3 games to 2 lead in the series.

Fabio Castro went 5 2/3 innings, allowing 1 run on 1 hit and striking out 6. He also walked 5 Diablos but Mexico was unable to take advantage of the free passes. 4 Toros pitchers were credited with holds and Mario Mendoza earned the save, pitching a 1-2-3 top of the 9th.

Marco Duarte pitched well for Mexico, throwing 8 complete innings, giving up 3 runs while scattering 5 hits and striking out 4. One bad pitch, the home run to Olivo in the bottom of the 1st, was Durante's downfall in the loss.

Miguel Olivo was 2 for 2 with a walk, 2 RBIs and a run scored, Lew Ford 2 for 3 with a run scored and Eduardo Arredondo went 0 for 3 with a sac fly RBI in the 8th for Tijuana.

Ramon Urias, Ivan Terraas and Jesus Lopez had the 3 hits for Mexico 

Leones Lose 2-1 To Piratas de Campeche

A mistake by Yucatan reliever Eder Llamas, on a 1-1 pitch to Paul Leon, resulted in a solo home that proved to be the difference in the 2-1 Campeche win. Leon added a single and a double on a 3 for 3 night with 2 runs scored for the Piratas. Llamas (2-2) took the loss. Hector Velazquez (3-1) pitched 6 innings of 1 run ball to record the win for Campeche. Ricardo Gomez picked up his 7th save of the year.

Ivan Araujo hit a one out single in the bottom of the 1st and went to third when Hector Gimenez doubled to center field. Araujo scored on a ground ball out to second base by Jesus Valdez and the Leones jumped on top 1-0.

Juan Delgadillo / Leones Facebook

The Yucatan starter, Juan Delgadillo, ran into trouble in the top of the 5th inning. With two outs he gave up a double to Paul Leon and walked Maxwell Leon. After a visit to the mound by the Leones manager, Adan Velazquez singled to right to score Paul Leon and the Piratas had tied the score at 1.

Paul Leon's home run in the top of the 7th proved to be the winning run as Velazquez and three Campeche relievers scattered 5 Leones hits, just three hits after the run was scored in the 1st, while striking out 7 in the win.

Jesus Valdez was 1 for 4 with the RBI for Yucatan.

Paul Leon went 3 for 3 with the home run, an RBI and a run scored for Campeche.

IN OTHER LMB ACTION:

Mexico 10, Saltillo 1
The Diablos Rojos scored 6 runs in the first 2 innings and cruised to a 10-1 win over the Saraperos. Arturo Lopez (4-1) pitched 7 innings allowing just 2 hits and 1 run for the win. Jesus Sanchez (1-1) lasted just 1 1/3 innings in the loss. Ivan Terrazas was 3 for 5 with 4 RBIs and Jesus Fabela went 1 for 3 with a home run and 2 RBIs for Mexico. Ramon Orantes was 1 for 2 with a home run for Saltillo.

Monterrey 1, Monclova 0 (10 innings)
Ricky Avarez hit a walkoff single to score Sergio Perez in the bottom of the 10th, the only run of the game in the Sultanes 1-0 win over the Acereros. Both starters, Jose Oyervidez for the Acereros and Edgar Gonzalez for Monterrey pitched extremely well but neither figured in the decision. Thomas Melgarejo (1-3) got the win and Jose Gallego (0-2) took the loss.

Veracruz 2, Oaxaca 1
The Aguilas scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 3rd and outlasted the Guerreros 2-1. Oscar Verdugo (3-2) scattered 3 hits over 7 1/3 innings to pick up the win and Jose Pina notched his 7th save. Oaxaca starter, Ruddy Acosta (1-3) was saddled with the loss for the Guerreros. Jose Chavez was 2 for 3 with 2 doubles and an RBI for Veracruz. DH Carlos Rivera went 1 for 4 with a home run for Oaxaca.

Ciudad del Carmen 5, Quintana Roo 4
The Delfines upped their winning streak to 5 games while the slumping Tigres dropped their 6th in a row in the 5-4 loss to del Carmen. The Delfines got home runs from Freddy Guzman, Henry Rodriguez and Gerardo Bustamante to withstand a 4 run 8th inning by the Tigres. Iker Franco hit a 2 run home run in that 8th inning for the Tigres. Oscar Rivera (1-3) picked up the win and Josh Lueke earned his 8th save. Rafael Perez (2-3) took the loss for the Tigres.

Rafael Perez / Tigres facebook

Tabasco 2, Puebla 1 (11 innings)
Pedro Diaz came through with a walkoff single in the bottom of the 11th for the Olmecas in a 2-1 win over the Pericos. JC Linares was 2 for 4 with the other RBI for Tabasco. Mario Santana homered for the only Puebla run. Jose Cobos (2-1) got the win in relief and Heberto Gonzalez (1-2) took the loss.

Tamaulipas 5, Laguna 2
Francisco Felix (2-2) went 5 innings for the Broncos allowing just 1 run on 3 hits in the 5-2 win over the Vaqueros. The Broncos used 7 pitchers in the game with Hector Navarro picking up his 2nd save. Felipe Arredondo (2-2) was charged with the loss. Ruben Agramon was 4 for 5 with an RBI, Daniel Hinojosa 2 for 5 with an RBI and DH Frank Diaz homered for the Broncos. Carlos Gonzalez was 1 for 3 with a home run for Laguna.

Charros Top Navojoa 2-1 Behind Orlando Lara's Strong Outing

The Mayos de Navojoa may be in last place in the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico but you wouldn't have known it last night as it took a strong pitching performance by the Charros starter, Orlando Lara, to defeat the Mayos 2-1.

Manny Rodriguez drew a walk to begin the Charros 4th. Leo Heras walked and both runners advanced on a wild pitch by the Navojoa starter, Hector Velazquez. With one out, CJ Retherford singled to score Rodriguez and Jalisco led 1-0.

Navojoa tied the game in the bottom of the 5th on a lead off walk to Eliseo Aldazaba and a single to right by Rolando Acosta that put runners on the corners. Tim Fedroff then grounded into a 6-4-3 double play that scored Aldazaba with the tying run.

The Charros lead off hitter in the 6th, Manny Rodriguez, doubled to left and went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Leo Heras. Rodriguez scored on a sac fly to right by Marquez Smith and the Charros had regained the lead 2-1. That would prove to be the winning run as the pitching, by both teams, took over.

Manny Rodriguez was 1 for 3 with his 21st double of the year and 2 runs scored. CJ Retherford singled once in his three at bats and drove in the first run for the Charros. Marquez Smith, though hitless on the night, hit the sac fly to drive in the eventual winning run in the 6th inning. Gabriel Gutierrez was 2 for 2 with a double and a stolen base.

Orlando Lara, now 5-3 on the year, got the win, allowing just 2 hits and a run in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out 6 but walked 4, continuing a pattern by the Charros starters of late. Brian Broderick pitched the 9th to pick up his 15th save of the year.

Hector Velazquez, for the Mayos, matched Lara's pitching for 6 innings, giving up just 4 hits and 2 runs with 4 strikeouts. He walked 3 and saw his record fall to 0-5 on the season.

Jalisco remains atop the overall standings with a 31-23 record, one game ahead of Mexicali, los Mochis and Culiacan who are all 30-24. The Charros are 10-9 in the second half of the season one game behind the leaders.