Venados Force Game 6 With 3-2 Win In LMP Semifinals

YAQUIS DROP GAME IN 13th INNING ON WILD PITCH

The Venados de Mazatlán scored the winning run on a wild pitch by Yaquis reliever Marco Carrillo in the bottom of the 13th inning to top Obregon 3-2 and force a game 6 in the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico semifinal playoff round. The Venados had entered the home stand against the Yaquis tied 1 game to 1 but lost two out of three games in Mazatlán. Game 6 will be played in Obregon on Sunday the 17th of January with a game 7, if necessary, on Monday.

Justin Greene led off the game for Obregon with a single to center and went to third as Leo Heras reached base safely on a fielding error by the Venados second baseman. Greene then scored on a sac fly to right by Max Ramirez for the 1-0 Yaquis lead after the top of the 1st inning.

Mazatlán trailed by that score until the bottom of the 6th inning. Jeremiaz Pineda singled but was picked off first for the 1st out of the inning. Esteban Quiroz was hit by a pitch and moved to second one out later on a single to center by Cyle Hankerd. After a pitching change, Olmo Rosario waited out a walk to load the bases. When the Venados sent pinch hitter Carlos Munoz to the plate, Obregon countered by bringing in reliever Adrian Ramirez. The Venados won the strategy moves as Munoz singled to score Quiroz and Hankerd for a 2-1 lead.

With 2 outs in the top of the 7th inning, Alfredo Amezaga singled to right for the Yaquis and scored on a double by Daniel Castro to tie the game 2-2.

Olmo Rosario led off the bottom of he 13th for Mazatlán with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Carlos Munoz. Paul Leon was intentionally walked to set up a possible double play scenario. Jose Felix followed with a single to left. The third base coach, in my opinion, made the bad decision to send Rosario home. Rosario was thrown out at the plate but Leon was able to advance to third on the play. With 2 outs, Carrillo threw a 2-2 fastball in the dirt that got by the Yaquis catcher for the wild pitch that scored Leon with the winning run.

Pinch hitter Carlos Munoz was 1 for 2 with the 2 run RBI single for Mazatlán as Cyle Hankerd and Olmo Rosario both went 2 for 5 on the night.

Justin Greene was 2 for 5 with a run scored for the Yaquis with Alfredo Amezaga going 2 for 4 at the plate with a run scored.

The teams combined to use 17 pitchers in the game with the Yaquis using 10 and the Venados 7. Marco Carrillo took the loss while Roberto Espinosa benefited from Carrillo's wild pitch to pick up the win.