The Venados de Mazatlan, leading the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico, lost to the Charros de Jalisco on Tuesday, 6-4, to drop the first game of a crucial three game series in Zapopan.
Mazatlan broke out on top early, scoring two runs in the top of the 1st. With two outs, Heber Gomez walked and back-to-back doubles by Ryan Schimpf and Olmo Rosario had the Venados up 2-0.
The Charros got those runs back quickly in their half of the 1st on a double by Manny Rodriguez and a 2 run home run by Japhet Amador. The Charros had tied the game at 2 all.
Jalisco scored a run in the bottom of the 4th. Japhet Amador reached safely on an error by the Venados third baseman and took second on the throw. Jesus Cota singled to move Amador to third. Fernando Valenzuela singled to score Amador and the Charros had a 3-2 lead.
Mazatlan retook the lead in the top of the 5th. Charros starter, Ben Kozlowski walked the lead off man, Derrick Robinson who moved to second on a wild pitch. Albert Carreon walked. Kozlowski threw wildly on a sacrifice bunt by Heber Gomez and Robinson scored. Olmo Rosario grounded out to second to score Carreon and the Venados were on top 4-3.
Manny Rodriguez hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 5th to tie the game again, this time at 4 apiece.
Japhet Amador hit his second home run of the night, and 6th of the year, to giive the Charros the 5-4 lead in the bottom of the 7th.
Gabriel Gutierrez led off the bottom of the 8th with his first home run of the year and the Charros went on to defeat Mazatlan 6-4.
Manuel Flores picked up the win in relief of Kozlowski and lowered his ERA to 1.17. Brian Broderick got the save, his 7th of the year, by shutting out the Venados in the top of the 9th. Felipe Gonzalez took the loss for Mazatlan and his record dropped to 1-2 on the year.
Japhet Amador was 2 for 3 with 2 home runs, 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Manny Rodriguez went 2 for 4 with a double, a home run, an RBI and 2 runs scored to raise his league leading batting average to .363. Rodriguez also leads the league in doubles with 11. Jesus Lopez was 2 for 4 to get his average back above .300. Gabriel Gutierrez went 1 for 4 with the solo home run.
Jalisco is now 12-9 on the year, 1/2 game behind the 12-8 Venados. The Yaquis de Obregon were rained out last night and lead the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico with a 12-7 record that leads the Charros by a full game.
