Despite 30-38 Record Charros Make 2015 LMP Playoffs

CHARROS EDGE INTO LIGA MEXICANA DEL PACIFICO PLAYOFFS

The Charros de Jalisco, who finished the year with a 30-38 record, managed to take the 6th, and last, playoff position over the Naranjeros de Hermosillo and last years LMP Champion Tomateros de Culiacan.

 

Jalisco garnered 8 total points in the 2 halves of the LMP season to earn the right to face the #1 seeded Aguilas de Mexicali in round 1 of the playoffs. The playoffs are scheduled to begin on Thursday, January 1st.

The best of 7 series begins in Mexicali on the 1st with game 2 scheduled for the 2nd. After a travel day, the series will shift to Guadalajara for games on the 4th, 5th and 6th (if necessary). Should games 6 and 7 be required, they will be played in Mexicali on the 7th and 8th of January.

The Charros present a different lineup for the playoffs then took the field for opening day. Leadoff hitter Eduardo “El Mosco” Arredondo is injured and not listed on the Charros roster. Likewise, Japhet “El Gigante” Amador has left the team to prepare for the upcoming baseball season in Japan. 37 year old catcher, Miguel Olivo, a 17 year veteran of the big leagues, replaces Gabriel Gutierrez behind the plate. Alex Liddi, the 1st Italian born and raised major league ball player, anchors the infield and Jesus “Cacao” Valdez led the LMP in batting average.

On the downside, Juan Navarette, the Manager of the Year in the LMP for 2014, was fired with 9 games to go in the season and last years MVP, Manny Rodriguez, has suffered through an off year, hitting just .256 for the season.

Facing the #1 seeded Aguilas will be a tough task. The Charros hitters left too many runners in scoring position throughout the year and the pitching staff gave up too many hits when faced with the same scenario.

Regardless of the negatives, the Charros are in the playoffs and anything can happen. Each team starts the “second season” at 0-0.

Baseball fans know that, despite the season results, the player stats and personnel changes, the game is played “between the lines” and the Charros have proven themselves winners on the field.

Yogi Berra once famously said…”it ain’t over till the fat lady sings”. We in Guadalajara simply say “Todos Somos Charros”

Jalisco Beats Obregon 11-4 To Take 3rd Game of the Series

The Charros finally got their power hitters going at the same time. For the first time this season they hit 4 home runs in a game. Japhet Amador hit 2 while Manny Rodriguez and Cory Vaughn hit one each.

Obregon took the lead in the 1st. With one out, Dean Anna walked to load the bases. Carlos Valencia popped up to short but Donald Lutz waited out a walk to force in Jake Smolinski for the 1-0 Yaquis lead.

The bottom of the 1st was all Jalisco. Manny Rodriguez hit a solo home run to tie the game at 1. Eduardo Arredondo walked and Japhet Amador hit a 2 run home run to left center for the 3-1 lead. Marquez Smith singled and Cory Vaughn walked. Gabriel Gutierrez singled to left to score Smith and Vaughn and the Charros led 4-1.

Jalisco scored a run in the bottom of the 3rd when Marquez Smith led off the inning by reaching first on an error by the Yaquis shortstop. After Cory Vaughn walked, Gabriel Gutierrez singled to score Smith and the 5-1 Charros lead.

The Yaquis scored three times in the top of the 5th, on walks to the first two batters and a 3 run home run by Agustin Murillo. The score was momenterily tied at 4.

The Charros would go Obregon one better in the bottom of the 5th by scoring 4 times. Eduardo Arredondo led off the inning with a walk and stole second. Japhet Amador followed with his second 2 run home run of the night. Marquez Smith, the next batter, tripled to right. Obregon changed pitchers and Jose Pina gave up a 2 run home run to Cory Vaughn. The Charros were in command with a 9-4 lead.

Jalisco scored their final 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th. Marguez Smith led off the inning with a walk. With one out, Gabriel Gutierrez walked. Both runners moved up on a Fernando Valenzuela grounder to second. Jesus Lopez then singled to score Smith and Gutierrez giving the Charros their final margin of victory, 11-4.

Graham Godfrey picked up his second win of the year but saw his ERA climb to 2.25. He gave up 3 earned runs on 4 hits. On the down side, he issued 4 walks to the Yaquis while striking out only 1. Five Charros relievers worked 4 scoreless innings giving up 3 hits.

Juan Navarette, the Charros manager, changed his lineup for this game. Leo Heras moved to leadoff, Manny Rodriguez hit in the 2 hole while Eduardo Arredondo was dropped to 3rd in the order.

Rodriguez went 2 for 5 with a home run and an RBI while raising his batting average to .370 on the season. Marguez Smith was 2 for 3 with a triple and 4 runs scored. Japhet Amador was 2 for 5 with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs. Cory Vaughn walked 3 times and went 1 for 2 with a home run. Gabriel Gutierrez was 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs and a run scored.

Jalisco is now 10-7, one game behind Mazatlan for 1st place in the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico while Obregon falls to 9-7, 1/2 game behind the Charros.

The Charros have a travel day today before taking on the Caneros de los Mochis for 3 games in Los Mochis.