Oaxaca Ekes Out Win Over Diablos 2-1 in Game 5

GUERREROS SCORE BOTH RUNS IN BOTTOM OF THE 6th INNING ON NO HITS

Jose Carlos Medina

It was a real pitcher's duel between the Guerreros and the Diablos on Thursday night. Oaxaca won the game 2-1 as starter Jose Carlos Medina (1-0) held Mexico to 1 run on 3 hits over 6 innings of work. Carlos Felix pitched the 9th inning to earn the save. Octavio Acosta (0-1) took the loss being charged with both runs on 4 hits, striking out 4 and walking 3 in 5 1/3 innings.

Mexico didn't get a ball out of the infield until Yeison Asencio hit a fly ball to right in the 3rd inning.

In the top of the 4th, Juan Carlos Gamboa drew a 1 out walk. David Vidal singled moving Gamboa to third. With runners on the corners, Luis Jimenez singled to drive in Vidal and give the Diablos a 1-0 lead.

Oaxaca was held scoreless until the bottom of the 6th. With 1 out, Yuniesky Betancourt waited out a walk The next batter, Henry Urrutia, also walked. Dustin Geiger was hit by a pitch to load the bases. That was all for Acosta. Reliever Fabian Cota, walked Julian Ornelas to force in Betancourt. Samar Leyva lofted a sac fly to right to score Urrutia as the Guerreros took a 2-1 lead.

Samar Leyva

Neither team threatened in the remaining innings and the Guerreros de Oaxaca had the win and a 3 games to 2 lead in the Zona Sur Championship Series of the LMB.

6,030 fans filled Parque Eduardo Vasconcelos to watch the home team win the game. At one point during the top of the 8th inning, 7,700 fans from around Mexico, the United States and the Caribbean were watching the contest on Facebook.

The Series returns to Mexico City for game 6 on Saturday the 29th of September and game 7, if necessary, will be played on Sunday the 30th. The Zona Sur Champion will play the Sultanes de Monterrey for the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol title.

Liga Mexicana de Beisbol 1st Round Summary

FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF THE SECOND GAMES OF THE PLAYOFFS

MONCLOVA 7     DOS LAREDOS 4

The Tecolotes jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning on a 2 run double from Daniel Mayora, but a 5 run outburst, in the 5th, by the Acereros gave Monclova the lead for good as the Acereros won the game 7-4 increasing their lead in the 1st round series to 2-0. Jesus Castillo and Danny Espinosa hit 2 run home runs in the explosive 5th inning. The Tecolotes scored twice in the top of the 9th inning but it was a case of "too little, too late". Juan Martinez and Domonic Brown were both 3 for 5 for Dos Laredos. Andre Rienzo (1-0) got the win and Josh Lueke picked up the save. Alexis Candelario (0-1) took the loss for the Tecolotes.

Andre Rienzo

OAXACA 6     YUCATAN 3

Oaxaca took the lead for good in the top of the 8th inning and doubled up the Leones 6-3 to go up 2 games to none in the best of 7 first round of the playoffs. 7,292 fans crowded Parque Kukulkan but were not enough to help Yucatan. Dustin Geiger went deep for the Guerreros while Jose Aguilar and Walter Ibarra did the same for the Leones. Although charges with a blown save, Samuel Zazueta (1-0) earned the win and Carlos Felix recorded his 2nd save in as many tries. Maikel Cleto (0-1) was charged with the loss.

Jose Guadalupe Chavez

TIJUANA 6     MONTERREY 3

The Toros de Tijuana had 13 hits, 7 for extra bases, in their 6-3 defeat of the Sultanes. Fernando Perez was 3 for 4 with a home run, Jose Chavez 2 for 4 with 2 doubles and Junior Lake 2 for 4 with a triple for Tijuana. The Sultanes had a 3-0 lead after 4 innings but couldn'thold off the Toros offense in the loss. Ramon Rios was 3 for 3 for the Sultanes. Jeff Ibarra (1-0) earned the win and Daniel Moskos notched his 1st save of the series. Marco Tovar (0-1) gave up 2 runs in 1/3 of an inning of relief to take the loss.

PUEBLA 3     MEXICO 0  (game suspended-rain)

The Pericos de Puebla jumped on top of the Diablos in the top of the 2nd, following home runs by Ricky Rodriguez and Michael Crouse. The rains fell hard with no respite in sight when the Umpires, and the League, suspended the game. The contest will resume at 1 PM (CDT) on the 12th of September with 1 out in the top of the 2nd and Alberto Carreon at the plate.