Monterrey Defeats Monclova 7-3 in Game 2 of Zona Norte Championship

4 RUN 4TH SPELLS DOOM FOR ACEREROS, GIVES SULTANES 2-0 LEAD IN SERIES

Agustin Murillo

Agustin Murillo got things going for Monterrey, hitting the first pitch he saw from Acerero's starter Josh Lowey over the left field fence to give the Sultanes an early 1-0 lead in game 2 of the Zona Norte Championship round of the LMB Playoffs.

With one out in the bottom of the 2nd, the Acereros struck back. Juan Perez drove a ball deep to left for a solo home run to tie the game. After Jesus Arredondo walked, Cesar Tapia lined a 2 run home run to left as Monclova regained to lead 3-1.

In the top of the third, with singles by Yadir Drake and Ali Solis putting runners on first and second with no outs, the rains came causing a 2 hour delay. When play resumed, Julio Borbon's sacrifice bunt got Solis at second but put runners on the corners. Borbon stole second and both runners scored on a single by Ramiro Pena to tie the game at 3. After a strikeout, Felix Perez hit a 2 run home run to left to give Monterrey a 5-3 lead.

The Sultanes added 2 runs in the top of the 4th. With one out, Yadir Drake was hit by a pitch. One out later, Julio Borbon lofted a long home run to right that scored Drake and gave Monterrey a 7-3 lead.

Julio Borbon

Over the last 6 innings, the Sultanes relief pitchers held the Acereros to 3 hits and no runs to give Darin Downs (1-0) the win. The Acereros starter, Josh Lowey (0-1) gave up all 7 Monterrey runs on 7 hits, including 3 home runs, in 4 innings of work to take the loss.

The series moves to Monterrey with game 3 scheduled for Sunday the 23rd of September with the Sultanes ahead 2 games to none.

Acereros Advance to Zona Norte Finals; Defeat Tecolotes 4 Games to 1

MONCLOVA SCORES 3 RUNS ON 4 HITS IN 3-1 WIN

Josh Lowey

The pitchers duel in this game was a good one. Josh Lowey (1-0) threw 4 hit ball over 7 2/3 innings, with 2 of those hits coming in the 8th inning, allowing 1 run, walking 3 and striking out 4 in the win. He walked a batter and gave up 2 singles in the 8th resulting in a run for Dos Laredos. Josh Lueke worked the 9th inning to record his 2nd save of the series.

The Tecolotes starter, Terance Marin (0-1), pitched a complete game allowing 3 runs on 4 hits over those 9 innings. The one pitch he would like to have back is the one that Juan Perez took deep in the 7th inning. Marin walked 1 and struck out 2 in his outing.

Terance Marin

The game was scoreless until Monclova scored their runs in the top of the 7th. Erick Aybar singled to lead off the inning and moved to second on a fly ball to center by Jesus Castillo. With 2 outs, Danny Espinosa doubled to left to score Aybar. Wild pitch advanced Espinosa to third but Juan Perez launched his home run to bring in Espinosa and give the Acereros a 3-0 lead.

Dos Laredos attempted to mount an offense against Lowey in the bottom of the 8th. Juan Apodaca opened the inning by drawing a walk and moved to second on a single by Enrique Osorio. One out later, a single by Juan Martinez scored Apodaca and signaled the end to Lowey's night. The Tecolotes loaded the bases against 2 relievers but Balbino Fuenmayor struck out to end the threat and the scoring for Dos Laredos.

Juan Perez

There would be no rally in the 9th as Josh Lueke shut down the Tecolotes and Monclova won the game and the series to advance to the Zona Norte finals against either Monterrey or Tijuana. Monterrey currently leads their series 3 games to 2.

Tigres Capture Game 4 Over Acereros With 7-4 Win

USE 3 RUN 10TH TO SECURE WIN

Watch video highlights HERE.

The Tigres de Quintana Roo pushed across 3 runs in the top of the 10th inning to win game 4 of the Serie del Rey over the Acereros de Monclova by a 7-4 score.

Carlos Bustamante

Carlos Bustamante held the Acereos scoreless through 6 2/3 innings, giving up just 4 hits, walking none and striking out 6. Reliever Ramon Rameriz worked the final 3 innings and was charged with a blown save but picked up the win following the Tigres outburst in the 10th inning.

Josh Lowey

Josh Lowey, the rained out game 3 starter, came back to start game 4 and gave up 4 runs on 8 hits, walked 2 and struck out 3. Matt Nevarez took the loss for Monclova allowing 2 runs to score in the 10th without recording an out.

Quintana Roo started the scoring in the 2nd inning on singles by Alfredo Amezaga and Esteban Quiroz. Amezaga scored on a force out by Brandon Villarreal that put the Tigres up 1-0.

The Tigres added a run in the 3rd on singles by Carlos Gastelum, Jorge Cantu and Alfredo Amezaga that scored Gastelum for the 2-0 lead.

Esteban Quiroz singled to lead off the 4th for the Tigres and scored in front of a home run by Eugenio Velez that made the score 4-0 Tigres.

Monclova mounted a comeback in the bottom of the 8th inning. They scored 3 times to pull within a run at 4-3. Jose Amador was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and moved to second on a wild pitch. Amador scored on a double by Hernando Arredondo for the first Acerero run. With one out, Antonio Lamas singled to score Arredondo. Walks to Carlos Penuelas and Hector Garanzuay loaded the bases and pinch runner, Miguel Guzman scored on a sac fly to right by Olmo Rosario for the third run of the inning.

Jose Amador hit a one out solo home run to left in the bottom of the 9th to tie the score and send the game into extra innings.

Jose Amador holds the runner

Alfredo Amezaga drew a walk with one out in the top of the 10th for the Tigres. Iker Fanco hit a ball deep in the hole at short for an infield single. After a pitching change for Monclova, reliever Juan Noriega uncorked a wild pitch to put the Tigres runners at second and third. Esteban Quiroz was intentionally walked to load the bases. Pinch hitter Raul Sanchez hit into a force play that scored Amezaga. Eugenio Velez then reached safely on an error by the Acereros shortstop that scored Franco. Carslo Gastelum singled to score pinch runner Hiram Martinez and the Tigres had the 7-4 win.

The Serie del Rey continues on Monday in Monclova. Should the Tigres win they would be crowned Champions of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol. If Monclova wins game 5, the series would return to Cancun for game 6 and game 7, if necessary.