Mexicali Upends Mazatlan 6-3

3 RUN HOME RUN IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 9th FOR THE WIN

Watch the Aguilas celebration HERE

Yuniesky Betancourt

The Aguias de Mexicali scored twice in the bottom of the 8th to tie the game at 3 and then a 3 run home run by Yuniesky Betancourt in the bottom of the 9th won it. The last 5 runs scored by Mexicali all came via the home run ball.

Mazatlan had scratched out single runs in the 4th, 5th and 6th innings to take a 3-0 lead. Two of those 3 runs came on solo home runs by Alex Liddi and Samar Leyva. The Aguilas got a run back in their half of the 6th to cut the lead to 3-1.

Mexicali, with two outs in the 8th, got a single from Juan Perez and a 2 run home run on a line drive to left off the bat of pinch hitter Ricky Alvarez to tie the game at 3.

Ricky Alvarez

In the bottom of the 9th, David Harris led off with a single. With one out, Xorge Carrillo singled to left as Harris went to third. After two mound visits to discuss strategy, Betancourt took an 0-2 pitch deep to left center for the 3 run, walk off home run and the win for the Aguilas.

Jake Sanchez (1-1), the Aguilas closer, picked up the win thanks to Betancourt's heroics. Sanchez had an exciting top of the 9th, giving up a walk, a stolen base and an intentional walk before getting a pop up to end the threat. Brandon Cuniff (0-2) was charged with a blown save and the loss for Mazatlan

Tomateros Edge Aguilas 3-2

JOSE OROZCO'S GO AHEAD RBI IN THE TOP OF THE 9TH WINS IT

Jose Orozco

Although neither starting pitcher was around for the finish, both pitched well. Culiacan's Aldo Montes allowed 1 run on 3 hits through 5 2/3 innings and the Aguilas' starter, Javier Solano gave up 2 runs on 5 hits in his 5 2/3 innings on the mound. Derrick Loop (1-0) was charged with a blown save but got the win in relief with Casey Coleman earning the save. Jake Sanchez, (0-1), the Aguilas closer, gave up the winning run and was charged with the loss.

Culiacan scored first, in the top of the 4th, on a double by Ryan McBroom and a run scoring single by Issmael Salas for the 1-0 lead.

A one out solo home run by Ricky Alvarez in the bottom of the 5th for Mexicali tied the game.

Ricky Alvarez

Rico Noel reached on a hot shot single to third in the top of the 6th, went to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a single by Salas as Culiacan retook the lead 2-1.

Juan Perez singled with 2 outs in the Mexicali half of the 8th inning, stole second and scored on a single by Misael German and the game was tied yet again setting up the 9th inning.

Salas got things going for Culiacan with a lead off single in the top of the 9th. Salas advanced on a sacrifice bunt and went to third on a single by Antonio Lamas. Pinch hitter Jose Orozco singled to left on a 1-1 pitch to score Salas for the 3-2 Tomatero lead.

Casey Coleman set the Aguilas in order in the bottom of the 9th to preserve the win for Culiacan.

The Tomateros improved to 4-2 on the season while the Aguilas fell to 3-2 after the loss.

Mexicali Wins Convincingly in Game 1 of the LMP Championship

SWAMP VENADOS 8-1 ON 14 HITS

Ricky Alavez and Luis Juarez homered, and CJ Retherford was 2 for 5 with an RBI. Newcomer Alex Liddi went 1 for 4 with 2 runs scored and Walter Ibarra, hitting 9th in the lineup, was 2 for 3 with an RBI as the Aguilas de Mexicali routed the Venados de Mazatlán 8-1 to win game 1 of the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico Championship round.

After giving up a run to Mazatlán in the 1st inning, Mexicali starter Javier Solano, who picked up the win, scattered 4 hits and struck out 7 in 5 1/3 innings on the mound. After Solano threw his 96th pitch of the game, the Aguilas manager called in reliever Manuel Chavez to finish the 6th inning. 4 Mexicali relievers held the Venados to 2 hits and no runs while striking out 3 over the final 3 2/3 innings. Amilcar Gaxiola worked 5 innings for the Venados allowing 5 runs on 7 hits in taking the loss.

Mazatlán scored their only run in the 1st inning. Justin Greene singled to center and scored on a double to left center by Esteban Quiroz that put the Venados up 1-0. Mazatlán would only get a runner in scoring position once more.

In the bottom of the 2nd, Yuniesky Betancourt singled and went to second as Alex Liddi reached safely on a fielding error by the Venados shortstop. Ricky Alarez followed with a long home run to left that scored Betancourt and Liddi as Mexicali took a 3-1 lead.

Alvarez' 3 Run Home Run

Mexicali scored a run in the bottom of the 4th on a solo home run to left by Luis Juarez and a 4-1 Aguilas lead.

Two innings later the Aguilas broke the game open, scoring 4 runs on 4 hits. The Venados helped Mexicali in the inning by committing an error, throwing a wild pitch and walking 2 batters. Liddi led off the inning with a single to deep short and went to second on the throwing error. Alvarez waited out a walk. One out later Liddi scored on a ground rule double to left by Xorge Carrillo with Alvarez moving to third. With Walter Ibarra batting, the Venados pitcher uncorked a wild pitch that scored Alvarez and moved Carrillo to third. Ibarra followed with a single to score Carrillo. After a force out at second on a ground ball by Chris Roberson, Roman Urias drew the second walk of the inning. CJ Retherford singled to center to score Roberson and the Aguilas had an 8-1 lead and the win.

Game 2 of the series will be played on Thursday the 21st of January in Mexicali. Following a travel day on Friday, the series will resume in Mazatlán with game 3 on Saturday the 23rd. Games 4 and 5, if necessary, will be played on Sunday and Monday.

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Tomateros Defeat Charros 8-4

TAKE 3RD GAME OF THE SERIES

The Tomateros de Culiacan salvaged 1 game 3 of the series with the Charros on a blustery Sunday in Guadalajara with an 8-4 win. For the first time this season, the Charros pitching had a rough outing. William Oliver (1-1) started for Jalisco and gave up 6 runs on 5 hits in 2 1/3 innings of work, including a bases clearing triple by Carlos Alvarez.

William Oliver on the Mound

Marco Camerena (1-0) scattered 9 Charros hits over 5 innings allowing 3 runs while striking out 2. The Charros had 11 hits in the game but just 1 extra base hit, a double by Fernando Valenzuela.

With the score 1-0 Culiacan in the top of the 3rd, Nick Buss bunted for a single and moved to second on a walk to Oscar Robles. Jorge Cantu was hit by a pitch to load the bases. One out later, Joey Meneses singled to shallow right field to drive in Buss. Carlos Alvarez hit a 2-2 fastball to the wall in right center that cleared the bases. A relay throw trying to catch Alvarez at third got by Alex Liddi for an error as Alvarez scored. The Tomateros had taken a 6-0 lead.

Zazueta Singles

Gabriel Gutierrez and Amadeo Zazueta singled to lead off the bottom of the 3rd for the Charros. Eduardo Arredondo singled to load the bases with no outs. Manny Rodriguez grounded into a force out as Gutierrez scored. Cacao Valdez then hit a sac fly to plate Zazueta. Japhet Amador singled to put runners at the corners with two outs. Alex Liddi came through with a single to center that plated Rodriguez as the Charros cut the Tomatero lead to 6-3.

The Tomateros could have scored a run in the 4th. Ali Solis tripled to lead off the inning. Nick Buss then hit a fly ball to right for an out. Solis, tagging on the play, slid hard and short as he wound up 2 feet shy of home for the easy 9-2 double play.

Zazueta singled to lead off the bottom of the 7th for the Charros, stole second and scored when Valdez reached safely on a throwing error by the Culiacan second baseman. The Charros had pulled to within 2 runs at 6-4.

Valenzuela Jr. Double

Al Solis doubled for Culiacan with two outs in the 8th inning to score Carlos Alvarez to increase the Tomateros lead to 7-4.

Culiacan added their final run in the 9th inning on a single by Oscar Robles, a double by Jorge Cantu (the Charros challenged the fair/foul call claiming fan interference but the play was upheld) and a sac fly by Ryan Solis for the final 8-4 win.

Culiacan improved to 2-6 on the year with both victories against the Charros and Jalisco fell to 6-2, tied with the Aguilas de Mexicali atop the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico standings.

IN OTHER LMP ACTION

Mexicali 10, Los Mochis 7

The Aguilas scored 10 runs on 15 hits including home runs by CJ Retherford and Ricky Alvarez in the 10-7 win in Los Mochis. Reynier Romero and Sergio Garcia homered for the Caneros in the loss. Alvarez was 2 for 5 with 4 RBIs for the Aguilas. Ramon Orantes, Jesus Arredondo and Garcia were all 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs for Los Mochis. Edgar Gomez (1-0) picked up the win in relief and closer Adam Reifer recorded his 4th save for the Aguilas. Juan Noriega (1-1) was charged with a blown save and the loss for the Caneros.

Mazatlán 5, Hermosillo 4 (10 innings)

Venados Celebrate Walkoff Win

In the second straight extra inning game between these two teams, The Venados executed a squeeze bunt in the bottom of the 10th for the walk off 5-4 win over the Naranjeros. Pinch hitter Hector Paez pulled off the squeeze as Erick Rodriguez scored the winning run. The Venados closer, Steven Hensley (1-0), got the win and Derek Eitel (0-1) suffered the loss. Hermosillo committed 4 errors in the game leading to 2 unearned runs for the Venados. Mario Santana was 1 for 5 with a bases clearing double for Mazatlan. The Venados improved to 4-4 on the year while the Naranjeros fell to 1-7.

Navojoa 9, Ciudad de Obregon 4

The Mayos exploded for 5 runs in the 3rd inning to take a 7-3 lead and added 2 more runs in the 9th to top the Yaquis 9-4 in front of 8,230 Obregon fans. The Mayos and Yaquis are now both 4-4 on the year. Eddie Gamboa (1-0) picked up the win despite giving up home runs to Roger Bernadina and Said Gutierrez. David Reyes (0-1) lasted just 2 1/3 innings on the mound, allowing 7 runs on 8 hits.
Obregon reliever Mark Hamburger gave up home runs to Quncy Latimore and Jesus Castillo in the top of the 9th. Latimore was 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored for the Mayos while Gutierrez went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs for the Yaquis.