Diablos Over Guerreros 9-4 in Game 4 of their Series

MEXICO EVEMS ZONA SUR CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES AT 2 GAMES APIECE

The Diablos Rojos del Mexico got to Guerreros starter Ruddy Acosta for 3 runs in the top of the 1st inning and went on to defeat Oaxaca 9-4 to even the Zona Sur Championship series at 2 games apiece.

Jesus Fabela

Mexico's Juan Fabela set the tone for the game, leading off the game with a double and taking third on a fielding error by the Guerrero's left fielder. Fabela scored on a fielders choice by Juan Carlos Gamboa that saw Gamboa safe at first on a late throw by the pitcher. Gamboa stole second and Luis Jimenez drew a walk. The Diablos loaded the bases on a single off the bat of Ivan Terrazas. Michael Choice hit a sac fly deep to center that scored Gamboa and Emmanuel Avila singled to drive in Jimenez. Mexico had a 3-0 lead before the Guerreros came to bat.

Oaxaca got a run back in the bottom of the 2nd on a single by Henry Urrutia, a one out walk to Julian Ornelas and a single by Alan Sanchez that scored Urritia.

Mexico scored twice in the top of the 5th as David Vidal scored on a ground out by Terrazas and a sac fly by Choice that scored Jimenez for a 5-1 lead.

Alan Sanchez singled to start the Guerreros half of the 5th and came around to score on a single by Alejandro Gonzalez. Erick Rodriguez scored on a ball four wild pitch for the second run of the inning as Oaxaca cut the Diablos lead to 5-3.

With the bases loaded in the top of the 6th, David Vidal hit a sinking line drive that got past the right fielder and caromed off the wall. 3 runs scored but Vidal was out at the plate trying for an inside the park home run. Vidal was out by so much that he never even attempted a slide. The Diablos led 8-3.

David Vidal

Michael Choice hit a ball out of the stadium to left in the top of the 7th. It was a towering fly ball, the type of home run ball where the fielder merely turns and watches the flight of the ball. Mexico led 9-3.

Alejandro Gonzalez lofted a fly ball to left center that was just out of the reach of a leaping Jesus Fabela and cleared the fence for a solo home run in the bottom of the 7th for the Guerreros cutting the lead to 9-4. Oaxaca couldn't get anything else going in the inning and went quickly in the 8th and 9th innings for the final score of 9-4.

6,050 fans filled Parque Eduardo Vasconcelos in Oaxaca de Juaruz hoping to see their home town heros take a 3 games to 1 lead in the series but the Diablos came out swinging and never let up, putting a damper on the crowd's enthusiasm. Game 5 will be played at the stadium on Thursday with game 6 to be played in Mexico City on Saturday the 29th of September.

Patrick Johnson (1-0) picked up the win in relief for Mexico while Ruddy Acosta (0-1) allowed 7 runs on 7 hits, walked 4 and struck out 3 in 5 1/3 innings to take the loss.

The 1 through 4 hitters for the Diablos were 7 for 16 with 3 RBIs and 7 runs scored. Luis Jimenez was 3 for 4 with a double and 2 runs scored.

Henry Urrutia was 2 for 3 with a walk for Oaxaca. Alejandro Gonzalez and Alan Sanchez were both 2 for 4.

Diablos Move to Championship Round of the Zona Sur with Series Win over Pericos

BEST PERICOS TWICE ON SUNDAY TO TAKE SERIES 4 GAMES TO 1

The Diablos got solid pitching and timely hitting in their 3-1 win in the 5th game of the series. Mexico recorded just 5 hits but made the most of them, scoring 3 runs on 3 hits off of the Pericos starter.

Mexico moves on to the Zona Sur Championship round to face either the Leones de Yucatan or the Guerreros de Oaxaca in a best of seven series. At the time of this article, Oaxaca was leading the Leones in the bottom of the 6th inning.

Carlos Figueroa started the game by drawing a walk. Juan Carlos Gamboa, the second batter, also waited out a base on balls to put runners on first and second with no outs. Yeison Asencio hit a fly ball to left that advanced Figueroa to third. Luis Jimenez singled to drive in Figueroa for the 1-0 Diablos lead.

Mexico added 2 runs in the 3rd inning. With one out, Juan Carlos Gamboa drew a walk but was forced at second on a ground ball by Yeison Asencio. Asencio scored in front of a towering home run to left off of the bat of Luis Jimenez. Diablos 3-0.

Luis Jimenez

The Perico's bats were held in check, 5 hits through 6 innings. In the bottom of the 7th, Michael Crouse hit a lead off single and advanced to second 2 pitches later on a wild pitch. Daniel Sanchez hit a grounder to short that moved Crouse to third. Oscar Sanay then singled to bring in Crouse but that would be all the scoring for the Pericos in the 3-1 loss.

Luis Mendoza (1-0) scattered 7 hits over 6 2/3 innings allowing 1 run, walking 2 and striking out 4 in recording the win. Manny Acosta earned his 2nd save of the series allowing one base runner in the 9th.

Josh Outman (2-0) pitched well except for the home run he allowed to Jimenez. He gave up all 3 runs on 3 hits, walking 3 without recording a strikeout in the loss for Puebla.

The hitting hero for Mexico was Luis Jimenez who went 3 for 4 with the home run and 2 singles, driving in all 3 runs for the Diablos.

Sergio Perez went 3 for 4 and Michael Crouse 2 for 3 with a walk, in the loss. Oscar Sanay had the only RBI for the Pericos.

Puebla Tops Diablos Rojos in Zona Sur Playoff Clash

WIN DECREASES DIABLOS LEAD TO 2-1

The Pericos de Puebla overcame a 2 run deficit with 3 runs in the bottom of the 6th inning and went on to defeat the Diablos Rojos del Mexico 7-6. Although the Diablos out hit the Pericos 15 to 6, Mexico managed only 2 extra base hits and were 3 for 14 with runners in scoring position. Peubla on, on the other hand, went 3 for 6 with runners in scoring position.

Jesus Fabela

Mexico scored 4 times in the top of the 5th inning. Carlos Figueroa got things going with a lead off walk and came around to score on a double by Juan Carlos Gamboa. Two outs later David Vidal walked. Michael Choice followed with a single to right that scored Gamboa. Emmanuel Avila was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ricardo Valenzuela waited out a walk to force in Vidal and Jesus Fabela drew a walk to bring home Choice. The Diablos led 6-4.

Puebla answered in the bottom of the 6th. Delmon Young walked. Ricky Rodriguez singled to right and when the Diablos right fielder misplayed the ball, Young scored and Rodriguez wound up on third. Michael Crouse drove in Rodriguez with a sac fly to right. Bernardo Heras followed with a home run to right and the Pericos had the lead and the game.

Juan Ramon Noriega (1-0) picked up the win in relief and Jeff Johnson notched his 1st save of the series. Patrick Johnson (0-1) gave up 7 runs in 5 1/3 innings on the mound, walking 1 and striking out 7 in the loss.

Ricky Rodriguez was 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored and Bernardo Heras had the home run in his 4 trips to the plate for the Pericos.

Juan Carlos Gamboa and Yeison Ascencio were both 3 for 5 for Mexico.

Mexico now leads the best of 7 Zona Norte 1st round with the games continuing with 2 more in Puebla and a return to Mexico City if necessary.

Diablos Rojos del Mexico Take Suspended Game From Pericos 12-4

DIABLOS GO UP 2 GAMES TO ONE IN ZONA SUR 1st ROUND PLAYOFFS

What a difference a day makes. When the game between the Pericos de Puebla and the Diablos Rojos del Mexico was suspended on Tuesday, the Pericos had a 3-0 lead with 1 out. Ricky Rodriguez and Michael Crouse had hit home runs and Wirkin Estevez seemed to be in charge.

Upon resuming the game, the Diablos scored twice in the 3rd inning, once in the 5th, which was the end of Estevez, and then exploded for 9 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to secure the win and go up 2 games to none in the 1st round of the LMB Zona Sur playoffs.

Michael Crouse had launched his second home run of the game in the top of the 7th to put the Pericos up 4-3 before the roof caved in and the Diablos decimated the Perico's pitching staff in the bottom of the inning.

David Reyes (1-0) was the recipient of the offensive output, pitching 1 2/3 innings to get the win.

David Reyes

Fernando Cruz (0-1) lasted just 2/3 of an inning for the Pericos, walking 2, surrendering 5 hits and being tagged for 5 runs in taking the loss. Jeff Johnson, who relieved Cruz, didn't fare any better against the Diablo's bats, allowing 4 runs on 4 hits in 1/3 of an inning on the mound.

Luis Jimenez went 4 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored and Carlos Figueroa was 2 for 4 with a walk, 2 RBIs and 4 runs scored for the Diablos.

Michael Homers in an LMB Game

Michael Crouse was 2 for 3 with 2 home runs, 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored for the Pericos.

The playoffs now shifts to Oaxaca, Monterrey, Nuevo Laredo and Puebla for game 3. The Guerreros, Acereros and Diablos all boast a 2 games to one advantage with the Sultanes and Toros tied at 1 game apiece.

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