Aguilas Top Naranjeros 3-0 in LMP Debut

JAVIER SOLANO DOMINANT IN OPENING GAME

Javier Solano

Javier Solano took the mound for the opening game of the Aguilas season in front of 17,000 fans at Estadio B-Air in Mexicali and put on quite a pitching exhibition.

Solano got the Naranjero's lead off batter to fly out to center and then struck out the next 8 batters to set the LMP record for consecutive strike outs. He would go on to strike out 12 of the first 18 batters he faced He gave up 2 hits, a double to Eric Young Jr. in the 4th and a single to Roberto Ramos in the 5th. Three Mayo relievers continued to overpower the Naranjeros, striking out 2 and holding Hermosillo scoreless over the final 3 innings. Jake Sanchez earned his first save of the year.

Mexicali scored a run on back-to-back doubles by Ricardo Serrano and Juan Perez in the 3rd inning to take a 1-0 lead.

Xorge Carrillo hit a lead off solo home run for the Aguilas in the 5th to increase to lead to 2-0. One out later, Juan Perez singled to left, went to third on a Daniel Castro single to right center and scored on a sac fly by Chuck Taylor for the 3-0 lead and eventually the game.

CJ Retherford, Xorge Carrillo and Juan Perez were all 2 for 4 for the Aguilas while Ricky Alvarez went 2 for 3.

Roberto Ramos and Jorge Flores were both 1 for 3 for the Naranjeros.

These two teams meet again on Sunday the 14th of October in Hermosillo.

Charros Fall to Navojoa 1-0 In Series Opener

MAYOS HELD TO 3 HITS; STILL WIN

Tyler Alexander Struck Out 12 in the loss

Tyler Alexander (1-1) threw 7 excellent innings for the Charros, striking out 12 and walking 3 in the 1-0 loss to the Mayos de Navojoa.

Alexander gave up 2 of those 3 hits in the bottom of the 2nd, a single to Quincy Latimore and a double to Christian Zazueta before Fernando Flores hit a sac fly to right that scored Latinore with the only run of the game.

The Charros loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the 5th. Art Charles drew a base on balls, Cacao Valdez singled, as did Alan Espinoza. Alejandro Ortiz ground into a 3-2-3 double play and Carlos Figueroa struck out to end the inning with no runs scored.

Jalisco put runners on first and second with 1 out in the top of the 7th but failed to score when Michael Choice struck out and Alberto Carreon grounded out to short for the 3rd out.

Art Charles in the Field

Art Charles drew a 1 out walk in the top of the9th and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Valdez was hit by a pitch but Espinoza skied out to center for the 2nd out and pinch hitter Fernando Valenzuela struck out to end the game.

This game of baseball is all about good pitching and timely hitting. The Charros got good pitching from Alexander but faced good pitching by the Mayos. Jalisco did not get the timely hitting while Navojoa made the best of their 3 hits.

Hector Velazquez (4-0) shut out the Charros for 6 innings and struck out 8. Conner Little, newly arrived in Navojoa earned his 1st save in his 1st opportunity.

Manny at Bat

Manny Rodriguez and Alan Espinoza both went 2 for 4 at the plate and Cacao Valdez was 2 for 3, accounting for all of the Charros offense.

2 more games in Navojoa before returning to Guadalajara on Tuesday the 8th of November for a 3 game set against the Aguilas de Mexicali.

IN OTHER LMP ACTION

Mexicali 4, Hermosillo 0

CJ Retherford was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored and Xorge Carrillo 1 for 2 with a home run and 2 runs scored for Mexicali in their 4-0 win over the Naranjeros. Hermosillo managed just 5 hits off of the Aguilas starter, and winning pitcher, Edgar Osuna (2-2) and 3 relievers in the loss. Jake Sanchez earned his 7th save of the season. Casey Coleman (2-1) took the loss for Hermosillo.

Los Mochis 6, Mazatlán 5

The Caneros scored a run in the top of the 9th to build a 6-2 lead and that run proved invaluable as the Venados scored 3 runs in their half of the inning. Los Mochis came away with the 6-5 victory. Thomas Melgarejo (1-2) picked up the win in relief for Los Mochis. The Caneros closer, Jon Sintes, normally lights out on the mound, gave up 3 hits (including a home run) and 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th to make the game interesting. Emmanuel Avila was 3 for 4 with a home run, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored for the Caneros. Brian Hernandez went 2 for 4 with a home run, 3 RBIs and a run scored for the Venados.

Obregon 8, Culiacan 1

The Yaquis scored 4 runs in the top of the 5th to make the score 8-0 and the Tomateros were held in check all night, scoring a run in the bottom of the 7th to avoid the shutout in the 8-1 loss to Obregon. Marco Carrillo (1-0) went 6 innings on the hill, striking out 6 to pick up the win. Daniel Rodriguez (1-3) gave up a home run to Armando Araiza and 5 runs on 6 hits over 4 1/3 innings to take the loss. Olmo Rosario and Matt Juengel were both 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs and a run scored for the Yaquis. Maxwell Leon and Bryan Lahair went 2 for 4 for the Tomateros

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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Charros Swept by Aguilas; Lose game 4 by a 7-4 Score

AGUILAS SCORE 6 RUNS IN THE 7th TO PUT AWAY CHARROS

The Charros de Jalisco were officially eliminated from the Liga Mexicana del Pacifco playoffs on Wednesday night. The Aguilas de Mexicali used a 6 run outburst in the 7th inning to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 7-3 lead from which the Charros would not recover.

Terance Marin on the Mound

Terance Marin, the Jalisco starting pitcher, took the loss working 6 innings and left the game after scattering 5 hits, giving up 1 run and striking out 2. Marin had thrown 83 pitches in those 6 innings.

I give these stats because the Charros manager, Homer Rojas, replaced Marin with reliever Manuel Flores to start the 7th inning. Flores walked the first batter he faced and gave up singles to Jon Del Campo and Roman Urias that allowed the Aguilas to cut the Charros lead to 3-2. Rojas replaced Flores with reliever Ivan Salas. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners up a base, Salas unleashed a wild pitch that scored Del Campo and tied the score at 3 all. Mexicali went on to score 4 more runs in the inning to bury the Charros.

Should Rojas have left Marin in the game? The answer is a resounding yes! Marin had thrown 83 pitches in 6 innings, an average of 14 pitches per inning, and held the Aguilas in check. Even using a 110 pitch count, Marin should have been able to pitch 8 innings. This was an elimination game. Lose and go home. Rojas should have allowed Marin to pitch until he proved ineffective. Marin could not have pitched worse than Flores and Salas. He deserved the chance as did the 8,800 plus fans that hoped for a victory to extend the Charros season.

Cacao Scores the 1st Run

Jalisco jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the 1st inning. Cacao Valdez drew a 2 out walk and moved to second on a one hop fly ball to center by Alex Liddi. Valdez scored on a single to center by Agustin Murillo and Liddi came home on a single to left by Miguel Olive that gave the Charros a 2-0 lead.

Liddi Scores on a Single by Olivo

Asael Sanchez singled to lead off the 4th for Jalisco, stole second, went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Luis Medina and scored on a throwing error by the Aguilas catcher to extend the Charros lead to 3-0.

Mexicali struck back in the top of the 5th inning on a walk to Luis Juarez, a single by Xorge Carrillo and a line drive single to center by Chris Roberson that scored Juarez and cut the Charros lead to 3-1.

The Aguilas scored all the runs they would need in the 7th inning and the Charros entered the bottom of the 9th inning behind 7-3. Asael Sanchez doubled to lead off the inning and scored, one out later, on a double by pinch hitter Ivan Araujo. That would be all the scoring and the Aguilas move on to the next round of the LMP playoffs with the 4 game sweep of the Charros under their belts.

Ex Charros player, CJ Retherford, went 3 for 5 on the night for Mexicali while teammate Wellington Dotel was 2 for 4.

Jesus "Cacao" Valdez and Miguel Olivo were both 2 for 4 for the Charros and Asael Sanchez was 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored.

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Liga Mexicana Players Headed To Spring Training As Non Roster Invitees

The Liga Mexicana del Pacifico will send five players from the 2014-2015 to join MLB teams as non-roster players this spring training.

Xorge Carrillo, the 2013-2014 LMP Rookie of the Year, will report to the NY Mets training camp in Port St. Lucie Florida. Carrillo played for the Aguilas de Mexicali in 2014 where he hit .273 with 56 hits, 19 doubles, 9 home runs and 33 RBIs.

Walter Ibarra, also from the Aguilas de Mexicali, hit .291 with 68 hits, 9 doubles, 4 home runs and drove in 23. Ibarra will be in spring training with the Arizona Diamondbacks at their facility in Phoenix Arizona.

Rico Noel, who played for the League Champion Tomateros de Culiacan, is a non roster invitee of the San Diego Padres. Noel hit .233 on the year with 42 hits, 1 double, 1 home run and 16 RBIs.

Eric Farris, formerly a Tomatero, will attempt to make the Minnesota Twins team as a non roster invitee at their Ft. Myers Florida complex. Farris last season in the LMP,  hit .309 with 64 hits, 8 doubles, 3 home runs and 32 RBIs.

Brian Broderick, a member of the Charros de Jalisco and the 2013-2014 winner of the league's Isidro Marquez Trophy as Reliever of the Year, will join the World Series runner up Kansas City Royals in Arizona to try and crack the solid core of relief pitching that got the Royals to the World Series in 2014.

Broderick was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 21st round of the 2007 MLB Draft. He was picked up as a Rule #5 draftee by the Washington Nationals in 2011 but was returned to the Cardinals in 2012. Broderick was reacquired by the Nationals that same year and traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks before the start of the 2014 season. Brian signed with the Los Angeles Angels after the 2014 MLB season but was traded to the Kansas City Royals on the 19th of December of 2014.

Broderick's stats for the 2014-2015 LMP season were very impressive. He saved 16 games in 17 chances and had a won/loss record of 3-1. Broderick allowed just 2 walks in 26 innings pitched while striking out 23. His 0.68 ERA over that time was matched by his WHIP of 0.68. Opposing hitters managed to hit just .176 off of the masterful right hander.

WDBarrsports will keep an eye on these players during spring training. Most of the teams will start playing games on the 1st, 2nd or 3rd of March and we wish all of the players Good Luck in pursuing their dreams.

Aguilas Overpower Charros 10-3

Game two of the three game series with Mexicali went to the Aguilas by a score of 10-3. The Charros offense was no match for the Aguilas on this night as Mexicali scored 10 runs on 10 hits, seven for extra bases, six doubles and one triple.

The Aguilas picked up right where they left off on Friday. In the top of the 1st, Dave Sappelt led off the game with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Walter Ibarra. Sappelt scored on a sac fly to left by Luis Juarez to make the score 1-0 Mexicali.

The Aguilas added to their lead in the top of the 3rd. Gil Velazquez doubled to left with one out. After Dave Sappelt struck out, Walter Ibarra doubled to center to drive home Valazquez for the 2-0 lead.

Wildness got the better of Charros starter Orlando Lara in the 4th. Josh Whitesell hit a lead off with a double and went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Mike Bianucci. Lara then hit Xorge Carrillo with a pitch and walked Chris Roberson to load the bases. Another walk, this time to Ricardo Serrano, forced in Whitesell for the third run of the night for Mexicali. Gil Velazaquez then hit a bases clearing double to put Mexicali up 6-0. Luis Rodriguez came on in relief of Lara for the Charros and walked Dave Sappelt on four pitches. Walter Ibarra followed with a triple off the wall in right center to score Valazquez and Sappelt. Luis Juarez grounded out to first to score Ibarra and the Aguilas led 9-0.

The Charros got a run back in the bottom of the 6th to cut the lead to 9-1. Eduardo Arredondo singled and scored on a double by Manny Rodriguez.

In the top of the 7th, Josh Whitesell led off with a double for Mexicali, went to third on a double by Xorge Carrillo and scored on a sac fly by Misael German for a 10-1 lead.

Jalisco scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th as Japhet Amador walked, Marquez Smith doubled and Brendan Harris singled to score pinch runner Jesus Cota. Amadeo Zazueta then hit a sac fly to score Smith and the score was 10-3, then final score.

Charros Top Aguilas 2-1 in Final game of Series

The Charros de Jalisco took the third game of the series with Mexicali 2-1 behind the excellent pitching of Marco Tovar and 4 relievers. Tovar is 5-0 on the season with a 2.64 ERA and Brian Broderick earned his 13th save of the year.

Marco Tovar had a one hitter through 4 1/3 innings before giving up a solo home run to Xorge Carrillo with one out in the bottom of the 5th. The Aguilas had a 1-0 lead in what was shaping up to be a pitchers duel.

The Charros took the lead for good in the top of the 6th on back-to-back doubles by Japhet Amador and Marquez Smith and, after Mario Meza replaced Marco Durarte on the mound for Mexicali, Gabriel Gutierrez singled to score Smith for the 2-1 lead and the eventual final score.

The Aguilas threatened in the bottom of the 8th, putting a man on first with two outs but Charros reliever, Brian Broderick came on to get Walter Ibarra to ground out to second to end the inning.

Broderick overcame a one out error by shortstop Jesus Lopez in the top of the 9th to get Josh Whitesell to hit into a double play to end the game and seal the win for Marco Tovar.

Marco Durarte pitched a very good ballgame but was saddled with the loss to fall to 0-3 on the year with a very respectable 2.47 ERA.

Marques Smith had a double and a single with an RBI and a run scored in his 4 trips to the plate. Japhet Amador was 1 for 3 with a double and a run scored while Gabriel Gutierrez went 2 for 4 with an RBI.

Aguilas Overpower Charros 10-4

The Aguilas de Mexicali manhandled the Charros in game 2 of the scheduled 3 game set on Saturday night in Mexicali with a 10-4 victory.

Jalisco scored the first run of the game in the top of the 2nd. Marquez Smith walked with one out. CJ Retherford doubled to score Smith and the Charros were on the board with the 1-0 lead.

Mexicali answered in their half of the 2nd. Xorge Carrillo walked and moved to second on a walk to Ricardo Serrano. With two outs, Gil Velazquez singled to score Carrillo and the game was tied at one.

The Aguilas scored 3 times in the bottom of the 3rd. Walter Ibarra singled and scored in front of a Josh Whitesell home run. Xorge Carrillo doubled and went to third on an error by the Charros second baseman. Graham Godfrey then threw a wild pitch that scored Carrillo. The Aguilas had the 4-1 lead after three innings.

Mexicali added to their lead in the bottom of the 4th when Gil Velazquez singled, Justin Greene walked and Walter Ibarra singled to right to score Velazquez. Josh Whitesell singled to score Greene with the second run of the inning. Xorge Carrillo grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the 4th but the Aguilas had a 6-1 lead.

In the bottom of the 5th with one out, Gil Velazquez singled to drive in Ricardo Serrano who lead off the inning with a walk and went to second on a wild pitch. The Aguilas took a 7-1 lead into the 6th.

Walter Ibarra hit a solo home run in the Mexicali half of the 6th to increase the Aguilas lead to 8-1.

Justin Greene doubled in the bottom of the 7th for Mexicali to drive in pinch hitter Victor Mendoza and Gil Velazquez. The Aguilas had a 10-1 lead.

The Charros had runners on first and third in the top of the 9th when Marquez Smith hit his 9th home run of the year to score Araujo and pinch hitter Fernando Valenzuela to cut the lead to 10-4. But that was the end of the scoring for Jalisco as the Aguilas de Mexicali won the game by the 10-4 score.

Edgar Ozuna got the win for Mexicali to improve to 4-1 on the year with a 2.66 ERA while Graham Godfrey took the loss and dropped to 4-2 on the season. Godfrey gave up 5 runs on 6 hits in the three innings he pitched.

CJ Retherford was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI while Marquez Smith went 1 for 3 with a three run home run.

The Charros drop to 0-2 in the second half of the season after finishing 21-14 in the first half. The third game of the series will be played at 5 PM Guadalajara time on Sunday. The Charros have a day off on Monday before starting a 3 game series in Obregon against the Yaquis.

Mexicali Tops Charros 6-5

The Charros de Jalisco traveled to Mexicali to take on the Aguilas for three games. The Charros entered the series 1/2 game behind the Yaquis de Obregon for the lead in the Liga de Mexicana del Pacifico. Jalisco lost to Mexicali 6-5 while Obregon was shutout by Hermosillo 3-0.

In the Charros game, Mexicali started the scoring in the 1st. Walter Ibarra led off with a triple and scored on a single by Dave Sappelt to take an early 1-0 lead.

Jalisco answered in the top of the 2nd. Japhet Amador led off the inning with his league leading 9th home run of the year to tie the score. Marquez Smith, who reached on a fielder's choice moved to second on a single by Gabriel Gutierrez. With two outs, Jose Felix walked to load the bases. Eduardo Arredondo walked to force in Smith and the Charros took the lead 2-1.

The Charros scored twice more in the 3rd on a Cory Vaughn home run that scored Leo Heras, who had led off the inning with a double, and Jalisco led 4-1.

The Aguilas struck back in the 4th. With two outs, Jon Del Campo singled to center and stole second. Ricardo Serrano doubled to score Del Campo. Ramon Urias followed with a single to score Serrano and the Mexicali team had pulled to within one at 4-3.

In the bottom of the 6th, the Aguilas lead off batter, Xorge Carrillo, doubled to left. Jon Del Campo reached on a ball hit back to the pitcher, Carlos Vazquez, who went to third in an attempt to get the lead runner but Carrillo made it back to second and the Aguilas had runners on first and second with no outs. Both runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Ricardo Serrano. Ken Sigman replaced Vazquez on the mound for Jalisco and got Ramon Urias to ground out to second. Jalisco manager, Juan Navarette, then brought in Antonio Garzon who gave up a 3 run home run to Chris Roberson and Mexicali had taken a 6-4 lead.

Jalisco threatened in the top of the 9th. Manny Rodriguez led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch on a walk to Leo Heras by Aguilas' reliever, Francisco Rodriguez. Japhet Amador popped out to second and Cory Vaughn struck out swinging. Leo Heras stole second. With two outs, Marquez Smith hit a ground ball to third that scored Rodriguez. Heras, with the ball on the ground in front of him, decided to try and reach third. Heras was tagged out to end the game.

Manny Rodriguez was 2 for 5 with his league leading 12th double and a run scored while raising his batting average to .370, the best in the league. Japhet Amador went 1 for 4 with a home run while Cory Vaughn hit a home run with 2 RBIs, 2 walks and a run scored on a 1 for 3 night at the plate. Jesus Lopez went 1 for 3 and quietly raised his season's batting average to .329, 5th in the league.

Orlando Lara started the game for Jalisco and went 5 innings allowing 7 hits and 3 runs while striking out 3. His ERA increased to 2.50 on the year. Carlos Vazquez took the loss giving up 2 runs in 1/3 of an inning in the 6th. Antonio Garzon had a blown hold in the 6th allowing a home run to Chris Roberson. Manuel Flores pitched the 7th and 8th innings givng up just 1 hit to keep the Charros in the game.

The Charros record is now 14-10. With the loss to Hermosillo, Obregon falls to 14-9, 1/2 game in front of Jalisco for the league lead. Mexicali climbs to 13-11, a full game behind Jalisco and in third place in the league. The series between Jalisco and Mexicali continues tonight and Sunday before the Charros travel to Hermosillo to take on the Naranjeros for 3 games.