Charros Smother Venados de Mazatlan 9-4

The Venados de Mazatlan came to Guadalajara for the final 3 games of the regular season and lost the first game to the Charros by a 9-4 score.

The Charros opened the scoring in the bottom of the 4th on a single by CJ Retherford, a sacrifice bunt by Edson Garcia and a double by Gabriel Gutierrez that scored Retherford for the 1-0 Jalisco lead.

Jalisco scored again in the bottom of the 5th on a throwing error, a fielder's choice that the Venados pitcher threw away and a single by Manny Rodriguez that scored Jesus Lopez for a 2-0 lead.

With one out in the Charros 6th, Edson Garcia doubled to right and scored on a Gabriel Gurierrez single. The Charros were up 3-0 after 6 innings.

The Venados would score two runs in their half of the 7th. Jesus Castillo doubled, Heber Gomez walked, and a single by Erick Rodriguez scored Castillo. A sac fly to center by Hector Paez scored pinch runner Paul Leon and the Vendados had cut the Charros lead to 3-2.

Eduardo Arredondo singled to lead off the home half of the 7th, stole second and scored on a double to left by Leo Heras. Japhet Amador was walked intentionally and CJ Retherford flew out to right to get Heras to third. Mazatlan reliever, Francisco Felix, then threw a wild pitch that scored Heras and moved Amador to second. After Edson Garcia and Gabriel Gutierrez walked, Fernando Valenzuela doubled to right to score Amador and Garcia for the 7-2 Charros lead.

Manny Rodriguez connected for his 7th home run of the year in the Jalisco 8th, a two run shot to left that scored Eduardo Arredondo to increase the Charros lead to 9-2.

Mazatlan refused to give up. In the top of the 9th, after Ivan Salas replaced Adrian Ramirez for the Charros, Jesus Fabela and Hector Paez singled. With one out, Oswaldo Morejon singled to score Fabela with Paez stopping at second. Ronnier Mustelier singled to plate Paez but Sean Gleason got Olmo Rosario to ground into a 6-4 fielder's choice that ended the game with the Charros 9-4 victory.

Manuel Flores picked up the win for Jalisco to improve to 2-1 on the year. Flores went 6 innings, scattering 6 hits while striking out 3 and holding the Venados scoreless. Fredy Quintero dropped to 3-4 with the loss.

Manny Rodriguez was 3 for 5 with the home run, 3 RBIs, giving him 40 on the year, and a run scored as he raised his batting average to .335. Gabriel Gutierrez went 3 for 4 with a double and 2 RBIs. Leo Heras had a double and a single in his 5 trips to the plate with an RBI.

The Charros are now 41-25 overall and 20-11 in the second half. The Venados de Mazatlan fall to 30-35 overall and 14-17 for the second half.