The Tomateros de Culiacan got the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico Championship Series off to a wild start with an exciting 11-8 victory over the Charros de Jalisco.
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| Charros Starter Marco Tovar / Bonnie Garrison Photo |
Ali Solis got things going for the Tomateros in the 3rd with a one out base on balls. Solis went to second on a single to center by Rico Noel. Solis moved to third on a ground out and following a walk to Eric Farris that loaded the bases, Joey Meneses singled to score Solis and Maxwell Leon for the 2-0 Culiacan lead.
The Charros got those runs back in their half of the 3rd on a singles by Marquez Smith and Sebastian Valle. With one out, Eduardo Arredondo singled to right to score Smith and get Valle to third. Manny Rodriguez hit a sac fly to left to drive in Valle and the score was tied at 2 each.
Dave Sappelt led off the Tomateros' 4th with a single and went to second on a single by Sergio Gastelum. Ramiro Pena singled to left and when the Charros left fielder, Jon Weber, overran the ball, Sappelt and Gastelum scored. Pena wound up on third and scored on a sac fly to left by Ali Solis as Culiacan retook the lead 5-2.
Jalisco used three pitchers in the 5th as the Tomateros exploded for 6 runs in the inning. Joey Meneses drove in a run, Dave Sappelt belted a two run home run to right, Ramiro Pena hit a sac fly for a run and Rico Noel tripled to drive in two for the 11-2 Culiacan lead.
In the 6th for the Charros, Leo Heras singled and CJ Retherford waited out a walk. Both runners scored on a three run home run by Japhet Amador, a long home run to left that narrowed the lead to 11-5 Culiacan.
Jalisco chipped away at the lead in the 7th. Jesus Lopez doubled to begin the inning and went to third on a fly ball to right by Eduardo Arredondo. Manny Rodriguez doubled to center to score Lopez. The lead was 11-6 Culiacan.
With two outs in the bottom of the 9th, Eduardo Arredondo singled to deep short and scored in front of a home run to left by Manny Rodriguez to bring the Charros to within three runs at 11-8. The next batter, Leo Heras, struck out to end this very exciting game.
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| Manny Rodrigues Home Run / Straffon Images |
The series continues today, Thursday, in Guadalajara with a travel day on Friday and games 3, 4, and 5 in Culiacan beginning on Saturday the 24th of January.
