Monterrey Opens With 4-3 Win Over Monclova

SULTANES OPEN ZONA NORTE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND WITH ROAD WIN

If you are the type of person who loves to watch good baseball, pitching, hitting and defense, then last night's game between the Sultanes de Monterrey and the Acereros de Monclova was right up your alley. Plenty of offense, good pitching and a dramatic finish!

Julio Borbon

The game started off as if this was going to be an offensive game. The Sultane's lead off hitter, Julio Borbon took an 0-1 pitch deep to right center to give the Sultanes a quick 1-0 lead. Not to be out done, the Acereros responded with home runs from Erick Aybar and Francisco Peguero in their half of the 1st to take a 2-1 lead.

The pitching for both teams settled down but Monclova added a run in the bottom of the 3rd on a single by Jesus Castillo, a walk to Danny Espinosa and a Juan Perez double to left that scored Castillo. Acereros 3-1.

Ali Solis led off the top of the 6th for Monterrey with a single and went to third on a single by Julio Borbon. Solis scored on a double play ball off the bat of Ramiro Pena. The Sultanes trailed 3-2.

Leading off the top of the 8th inning, Solis singled again. Marco Guzman entered the game as a pinch runner for Solis. Julio Borbon hit a ball back up the middle that the Acereros second baseman got to but couldn't get to the shortstop in time for a force out. Pinch running for Solis paid off as the speedy Guzman was safe at second. Ramiro Pena laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved the runners up. Following an intentional walk to Felix Perez, Chris Roberson walked on 4 pitches to force in Guzman with the tying run. The Acereros pitchers only walked 3 batters all night but these two were costly.

Yadir Drake launched a long fly ball to left in the top of the 9th inning that appeared to glance off of the glove of the Acereros left fielder before landing over the wall for the home run and a 4-3 lead for the Sultanes.

Yadir Drake

The Acerero's Rodolfo Amador singled off of Wirfin Obispo in the bottom of the 9th and stole second. Amador was stranded as Cade Gotta struck out to end the game.

Anthony Vasquez started the game for the Sultanes and gave up all 3 Monclova runs on 6 hits, including 2 home runs, walking 2 and striking 1 in 5 innings. Nick Struck (1-0) worked the 8th to get the win and Wirfin Obispo pickup the save, although not without drama.

Andre Rienzo pitched well for the Acereros, going 6 1/3 innings, scattering 6 hits but did not figure in the decision. Mario Morales was charged with a blown save for giving up the run in the 8th and Zack Segovia (0-1) took the loss, allowing the home run to Drake in his inning on the mound.

Julio Borbon was 3 for 5 with a home run, Ali Solis 2 for 3 and Yadir Drake had the home run in his 4 trips to the plate.

Erick Aybar went 2 for 4 with a home run and team mate Francisco Peguero 1 for 3 with his 1st inning home run.

Monterrey Wins 4-3 Over Tijuana to Advance to Zona Norte Championship

EXCITING GAME 7...NEXT UP ACEREROS de MONCLOVA

The Sultanes scored first and held on through an exciting bottom of the 9th inning to beat the Toros de Tijuana 4-3 and now move on to face Monclova in the Zona Norte Championship round of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol playoffs.

Nick Struck

Nick Struck (2-0) picked up the win in relief of starter Jose De Paula. Struck went 2 2/3 innings, giving up a hit while striking out 2, Wirfin Obispo earned his second save of the series although over 2 innings he allowed 2 runs on 3 hits, including a home run in the bottom of the 9th.

Horacio Ramirez (0-1) was tagged for 2 runs on 3 hits over 4 1/3 innings on the mound in taking the loss. Although Ramirez took the loss, the Toros relievers were responsible for the overall damage. Aaron Kurcz gave up a home run to Ali Solis in the top of the 7th and closer Jake Sanchez allowed what would be the winning run to score on a home run to Chris Roberson in the top of the 9th.

Tijuana made things interesting in the bottom of the 9th inning. Trailing 4-1, Frederich Cepeda singled to begin the inning. Jorge Cantu followed with his 3rd home run of the series, and his 3rd hit of the game, to plate Cepeda and pull the Toros to within a run at 4-3. With 2 outs, Xorge Carrillo singled to center and Juan Perez was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Jose Guadalupe Chavez struck out to end the exciting 9th inning and the game.

Monterrey had just 6 hits in the game with Solis and Roberson getting 5 of them and driving in all 4 runs for the Sultanes.

Ali Solis

Jorge Cantu went 3 for 4 with the home run and all 3 RBIs for the Toros.

Monterrey Takes Control of Zona Norte 1st Round Series with 10-4 Win Over Tijuana

8 RUN 7TH INNING TOO MUCH FOR TOROS

The Sultanes used an 8 run outburst in the bottom of the 7th inning to regain the lead and demolish the Toros de Tijuana 10-4 and take charge of the best of 7 Zona Norte 1st round playoff series.

Monterrey scored twice in the bottom of the 1st inning. Augustin Murillo, the hero of game 4, stroked a 2 out single. Felix Perez was hit by a pitch and Jose Amador singled to left to drive in Murillo. Ramon Rios followed with a single to right to plate Perez. 2-0 Monterrey.

Ramon Rios

Tijuana clawed their way back with single runs in the 4th, 5th and 7th innings. Junior Lake scored on a force out in the 4th. Anadeo Zazueta homered in the 5th and Juan Perez singled to drive in Gabriel Gutierrez in the top of the 7th to give the Toros a temporary 3-2 lead.

Monterrey scored all 8 of their runs in the bottom of the 7th inning with 2 outs. A Ramiro Pena double scored Sebastian Elizalde and Julio Bourbon. Augustin Murillo singled to score Pena. After an intentional walk, Lose Amador singled to score Murillo/ Felix Perez scored on a fielding error and the scoring was complete when Chris Roberson launched a towering 3 run home run to right.   10-3 Sultanes.

Junior Lake led off the top of the 8th inning with a home run for Tijuana but that would be the last of the scoring for the Toros and the final was 10-4 Sultanes.

Jose Amador went 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs for Monterrey. Chris Roberson had the home run and 3 RBIs in 4 trips to the plate while Augustin Murillo was 2 for 4 with an RBI and 2 runs scored.

Junior Lake

Junior Lake was 2 for 4 with a home run and Frederich Cepeda was 2 for 3 for the Toros.

Nick Struck (1-0) got the win in relief of Anthony Vasquez. Between the two, they struck out 8 while walking 3.

Daniel Moskos (0-2) allowed 2 runs on one hit and a walk without recording an out. Aaron Kurcz was charged with a blown save, allowing 5 runs on 3 hits in 2/3 of an inning for the Toros