Venados Bounce Back With 4-2 Win In Game 2

TIE SERIE FINAL AT 1 GAME APIECE

The Venados de Mazatlán tied the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico Serie Final against the Aguilas de Mexicali at 1 game each last night with a 4-2 win in Mexicali.

Winning Pitcher Alejandro Soto

3 runs in the 4th inning by the Venados gave them the 3-1 lead and the Mazatlán relief pitchers did the rest. Alejandro Soto, the starter for Mazatlán went 5 innings for the win, scattering 4 hits (2 hits after the 1st inning), allowing 1 run, walking 1 and striking out 2. Steven Hensley struck out 1 batter while working a 1-2-3 ninth inning to pick up the save...his 4th of the playoffs.

Terance Marin, the Aguilas starter, took the loss giving up 4 runs on 5 hits although only 1 of the runs was earned. Marin walked 2 and struck out 1.

Agustin Murillo went 2 for 4 at the plate for the Venados with an RBI. Justin Greene, Esteban Quiroz, Cyle Hankerd and Olmo Rosario were all 1 for 4 on the night with Quiroz and Rosario driving in runs. Mike Jacobs had a sac fly RBI for Mazatlán.

Chris Roberson was 2 for 4 for the Aguilas with a run scored. Wellington Dotel had a pinch hit double with a run scored. Yuniesky Betancourt had a triple with an RBI for Mexicali and Luis Juarez had an RBI on a sac fly.

Roberson led off the bottom of the 1st for the Aguilas with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Roman Urias and scored on a triple to left center by Betancourt as Mexicali took a quick 1-0 lead.

Mazatlán struck back in the top of the 4th inning With one out, Esteban Quiroz reached base safely on a fielding error by the Aguilas third baseman. Cyle Hankerd followed with a double to left that put runners at second and third with 1 out. Murillo singled to score Quiroz and put runners on the corners. Mike Jacobs, the Venados DH, hit a sac fly to center that scored Hankerd as Murillo took second on the throw. Rosario singled to score Murillo and the Venados led 3-1.

The Venados added an insurance run in the 6th on a one out single by Greene that was too tough for the shortstop to handle. Greene stole second and scored on a double by Quiroz and the 4-1 Mazatlán lead.

Mexicali would score a run in the bottom of the 7th when pinch hitter Wellington Dotel hit a double to center and went to third as the Venados center fielder misplayed the bounce for an error. Juarez drove in Dotel with a sac fly to right that cut the lead to 4-2 but the Aguilas could muster no more offense and the Venados took game 2 of the Serie Final by that score.

The win in Mexicali ensures that all 3 games scheduled for Mazatlán will take place. After a travel day on Friday, the series resumes with game 3 on Saturday. Game 4 of the series will be played on Sunday with game 5 scheduled for Monday the 25th of January. 

Aguilas Take Game 2 Over Charros 5-2

TAKE TWO GAMES TO NONE LEAD TO GUADALAJARA

Agustin Murillo Picked Off at 1st

The offensive woes that plagued the Charros in 2015 continue in the playoffs of 2016. On Friday Jalisco scored 1 run, on a solo home run, and went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position. Saturday was better in that the Charros scored 2 runs and had more scoring opportunities but went 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position. Terance Marin pitched very well in game 1 and Michael Nix, with the exception of the home run, was adequate in game 2 but the offense was unable to respond.

Mexicali takes a 2 games to none lead in the best of 7 playoff series before heading to Guadalajara for games on Monday and Tuesday. A game 5, if necessary, will be played at the stadium in Guadalajara on Wednesday. All games in the Estadio Panamericano begin at 7:30 PM.

Cacao Doubles in the 1st

Jalisco jumped in front early on a 2 out double by Cacao Valdez in the 1st inning. Valdez scored on a single to left by Alex Liddi. Miguel stranded Liddi at second on a swinging strikeout.

Cacao Scores on Liddi Single

Yuniesky Betancourt singled to lead off the Aguilas half of the 2nd and trotted home in front of a home run by former Charros' player, CJ Retherford that gave Mexicali a 2-1 lead. After a walk to Wellington Dotel, Xorge Carrillo hit a one out single that moved Dotel to third. Carrillo stole second and both runners scored on a single by Ramon Rios for a 4-1 lead.

Mexicali added a run in the 6th inning on a lead off double by Retherford and an RBI single by Dotel putting the Aguilas up 5-1.

The Charros would cut the lead to 5-2 in the top of the 7th, Agustin Murillo, obtained in the Leo Heras trade with the Yaquis, doubled to lead off the inning. Asael Sanchez walked. A passed ball moved the runners to second and third. Murillo scored on a ground ball out by Ivan Araujo.

Esmailin Caridad set the Charros down in order in the top of the 9th to get the save and preserve the win for the Aguilas starter, Hector Rodriguez.

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Michael Nix took the loss for the Charros giving up 4 runs on 8 hits, striking out 5 but walking 3.