Tomateros Reach Liga Mexicana del Pacifico Finals Against Charros

TOP AGUILAS de MEXICALI 9-8 IN ELEVEN INNINGS

The Tomateros de Culican are in the finals of the Liga de Mexicana del Pacifico against the Charros de Jalisco by virtue of their 9-8 win over the Aguilas de Mexicali in 11 innings last night. The Tomateros squandered an 8-3 lead but held on to win on a throwing error by the Aguilas pitcher in the bottom of the 11th.

The Aguilas scored two in the 1st on a walk to Gil Velazquez and a home run to left by Humberto Cota that got Mexicli off to a 2-0 lead.

John Lindsey led off the 2nd for Mexicali with a solo home run to left to up the Aguilas' lead to 3-0.

Joey Meneses singled to lead off the Tomateros half of the 2nd. Russell Branyan then singled to left with Meneses going to third. Meneses and Branyan both scored in front of Oscar Robles' home run to right that tied the score at 3.

In the bottom of the 3rd for Culiacan, Eric Farris led off with a single and went to second on a single by Russell Branyan. Issmael Salas sent a shot to left for a home run that scored Farris and Branyan and increased the Tomateros lead to 6-3.

Culiacan scored twice in the bottom of the 4th. A single by Eric Farris, with two outs, started things off. Joey Meneses followed with a single that moved Farris to third. Russell Branyan then singled to score Farris with Meneses going to third. A passed ball scored Meneses and the Tomateros were ahead 8-3.

Dave Sappelt hit a three run home run for the Aguilas in the top of the 5th that scored Chris Roberson and Gil Velazquez to narrow the Tomateros lead to 8-6.

Mexicali scored a run in the 8th on singles by Humberto Cota and Luis Juarez and a sac fly to center by Ricardo Serrano that scored Cota. The Aguilas were now 1 run back at 8-7.

The Aguilas tied the score at 8-8 in the top of the 9th on Dave Sappelt's second home run of the night, a solo blast to left that tied the game and forced extra innings.

The Tomateros won the game in the bottom of the 11th when, following a double by Joey Meneses, the Mexicali pitcher threw wildly to first on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Sergio Gastelum that scored Meneses with the winning run.

The Tomateros now face the Charros de Jalisco in a best of seven championship series that begins in Guadalajara on Wednesday night