Mexicali Upends Mazatlan 6-3

3 RUN HOME RUN IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 9th FOR THE WIN

Watch the Aguilas celebration HERE

Yuniesky Betancourt

The Aguias de Mexicali scored twice in the bottom of the 8th to tie the game at 3 and then a 3 run home run by Yuniesky Betancourt in the bottom of the 9th won it. The last 5 runs scored by Mexicali all came via the home run ball.

Mazatlan had scratched out single runs in the 4th, 5th and 6th innings to take a 3-0 lead. Two of those 3 runs came on solo home runs by Alex Liddi and Samar Leyva. The Aguilas got a run back in their half of the 6th to cut the lead to 3-1.

Mexicali, with two outs in the 8th, got a single from Juan Perez and a 2 run home run on a line drive to left off the bat of pinch hitter Ricky Alvarez to tie the game at 3.

Ricky Alvarez

In the bottom of the 9th, David Harris led off with a single. With one out, Xorge Carrillo singled to left as Harris went to third. After two mound visits to discuss strategy, Betancourt took an 0-2 pitch deep to left center for the 3 run, walk off home run and the win for the Aguilas.

Jake Sanchez (1-1), the Aguilas closer, picked up the win thanks to Betancourt's heroics. Sanchez had an exciting top of the 9th, giving up a walk, a stolen base and an intentional walk before getting a pop up to end the threat. Brandon Cuniff (0-2) was charged with a blown save and the loss for Mazatlan

LMP Transactions for 10/30

The Naranjeros have named Alfredo Meza as a coach. I have searched everywhere and I don't see that the manager, Bronswell Patrick, has been let go. I'm not sure in what capacity Meza will serve the Naranjeros. On to the transactions.

Aguilas de Mexicali     Deactivate   P Dusten Knight
                                      Activate   INF Yuniesky Betancourt

                                      Deactivate   P Jonathan Del Campo
                                      Activate   INF Ramon Rios

Naranjeros de Hermosillo     Deactivate   INF Roberto Ramos
                                               Activate   INF Luis Jimenez

Mayos de Navojoa     Deactivate   INF Alvaro Gonzalez

Roberto Ramos (HER) was batting .326 with 2 home runs and 8 RBIs for the Naranjeros before being deactivated while Jimenez appeared in 1 game for Hermosillo going 0 for 4. 

Serie del Rey Begins with Oaxaca Victory Over Monterrey

GUERREROS SCORE EARLY ON THE WAY TO A 4-1 WIN

Alex Delgado

Seven hits in the first 2 innings, including 2 doubles by Yuniesky Betancourt, led to 4 runs for Oaxaca. They would prove to be more than enough for starter Alex Delgado. Delgado scattered 2 hits over 6 2/3 innings. The Sultanes could muster just 3 hits in the entire game as the Oaxaca pitchers struck out 9 and walked 3.

The Guerreros take the opener and a 1 game to none lead in the Serie del Rey of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol.

The Sultanes starter, Edgar Gonzalez, gave up all 4 runs on 7 hits in 1 1/3 innings on the mound in taking the loss. Alex Delgado on the other hand was outstanding in his start. Delgado allowed just 2 hits and struck out 9 in his 6 2/3 innings of work. He pitched out of a jam in the 3rd inning. After issuing 2 walks ad a single to load the bases, he got Ramiro Pena to pop up to short and struck out Agustin Murillo to end the inning.

Oaxaca scored 2 runs in the top of the 1st on consecutive doubles by Jay Austin and Yuniesky Betancourt followed by consecutive singles by Henry Urrutia and Dustin Geiger for the early 2-0 lead.

Erick Rodriguez hit a one out single for the Guerreros in the 2nd and went to second on a single by Austin. Betancourt hit his second double of the game to center to plate Rodriguez and Austin. Oaxaca led 4-0.

Yuniesky Betancourt

Ramon Rios walked to lead off the bottom of the 8th for Monterrey and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Julio Borbon. Ramiro Pena doubled to left center to drive in Rios but Agustin Murillo lined out to short to end the inning. The Sultanes went down in order in the last of the 9th inning and the Guerreros had the win.

21,909 fans packed Estadio de Beisbol Monterrey only to see the home team lose the game. These two teams meet for game 2 on Wednesday the 3rd of October.

Guerreros Chrush Diablos 13-3 in Game Two of the Zona Sur Championship

OAXACA BATS EXPLODE FOR 19 HITS AND 13 RUNS TO EVEN CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Yuniesky Betancourt Homers Twice

When the rains started falling on Saturday in Mexico City, no one could have imagined they would have opened the floodgates for the Guerreros on Sunday. Oaxaca was ahead 1-0 when the game was suspended but they scored 12 runs when the game resumed. Yuniesky Betancourt, who had given the Guerreros a 1-0 lead with a home run in the 1st inning, added the final 2 runs for Oaxaca with a 2 run home run in the top of the 9th. Betancourt drove in 3 while scoring 4 runs on a 4 for 6 hitting night.

The Diablos were held to 3 runs on 6 hits. Mexico also displayed sloppy defense with 4 errors that led to 5 runs directly but extended 3 innings for Oaxaca.

Irwin Delgado (1-0) picked up for his younger brother, Alex Delgado, after the suspended restart and scattered 6 hits over 5 innings to get the win. The Guerreros pitches struck out 12 Diablos and walked just 1 in stymying the Diablos bats.

Gonzalo Sanudo (0-1) gave up 4 runs on 3 hitsin3 innings to take the loss but 6 Diablos pitchers allowed runs to score in the 19 hit attack by the Guerreros.

Ricardo Valenzuela doubled to lead off the bottom of the 3rd for Mexico. A sacrifice bunt moved him to second. Juan Carlos Gamboa, the hero of game 1, doubled 2 outs later to score Valenzuela. A single by Yeison Asencio drove in Gamboa as the Diablos retook the lead 2-1.

Ricardo Valenzuela

David Vidal homered on a line drive to left in the bottom of the 4th to extend the Diablos short lived lead to 3-1.

Oaxaca took the lead for good in the top of the 5th inning, scoring 4 runs. A single by Alejandro Ginzalez, a 2 out double by Jay Austin, A Betancourt single, back-to-back walks to Henry Urrutia and Dustin Geiger and a single by Julio Ornelas accounted for the runs. Oaxaca never looked back as they added 8 more runs in the win.

Games 3, 4 and 5 will be played in Oaxaca beginning on Tuesday the 25th of September. If necessary, Game 6 will be played in Mexico City

Aguilas de Mexicali to Compete in 2018 Mexican Baseball Fiesta

1ª de una serie de 4 partes sobre los equipos que compiten

Cuatro equipos de la Liga Mexicana del Pacifico (LMP) competirán en la Fiesta de Béisbol Mexicana de este año en Tucson, junto con el equipo de béisbol salvaje de Arizona y las jóvenes estrellas de los Royals de Kansas City. Esta serie de artículos se centrará en los equipos de la LMP.

En primer lugar están las Aguilas de Mexicali. Con una población de 689.000, Mexicali, la ciudad capital de baja California, se encuentra a unos 60 kilómetros al oeste de Yuma, AZ y a pocos kilómetros al sur de Calexico, CA. La ciudad ha sido un semillero de la tradición del béisbol desde su fundación en 1976. El equipo ha ganado el Campeonato LMP cuatro veces y ha competido en la serie del Caribe cada vez, ganando todo en 1986.

Enterestingly, el equipo es propiedad del gobierno del estado de baja California. Aunque la mayoría de los equipos mexicanos son apoyados por los gobiernos locales, las Aguilas son propiedad de lock, stock y barril por el gobierno del estado. La obra de Aguilas es estadio B'Air, sede de 17.000 asientos en el centro de Mexicali. Para la temporada de invierno 2017-18, las Aguilas dibujaron un promedio de 13.242 ventiladores por noche. Compare eso con el expreso de Round Rock de la Liga de la costa pacífica que tenía 8.809 aficionados aparecen cada noche.

Ha habido unas cuantas futuras ligas mayores juegan a la pelota de invierno en México. Algunos de los que jugaron para las Aguilas fueron, Mike Piazza, John Kruk, Fernando Valenzuela, Sergio Romo y Jeff Samardzija.

El equipo de este año tendrá algunos extranjeros jugando para ellos. 

CJ Retherford

CJ Retherford, nacido en Homestead, FL, asistió al estado de Arizona y ha jugado para las Aguilas durante 3 temporadas, bateando 31 jonrones, conduciendo en 112 carreras mientras bate. 282.

Yuniesky Betancourt hit. 261, acumuló 80 jonrones y condujo en 477 mientras jugaba para 4 equipos en la MLB.

Chris Roberson, de 39 años de edad, apareció en 157 juegos para los Philos de Filadelfia y ha jugado durante 13 temporadas en las ligas mexicanas. Roberson ha alcanzado 146 jonrones y conducido en 668 carreras mientras compilando un. 280 promedio.

Las Aguilas son un equipo ofensivo explosivo y debe ser divertido para ver en la fiesta de este año de béisbol mexicano. 

Usted puede comprar los boletos en www.mexicanbaseballfiesta.com  

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Liga Mexicana de Beisbol Championship Series

SLATE OF GAMES FEATURE 8 LMB TEAMS

The 1st round of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (LMB) playoffs began last night, September 10th, with the Sultanes de Monterrey taking on the Toros de Tijuana and the Acereros del Norte de Monclova facing the Tecolotes de Los Dos Laredos in the Zona Norte. The Diablos Rojos del Mexico square off against the Pericos de Puebla and the Leones de Yucatan meet the Guerreros de Oaxaca in the Zona Sur. Each is a best of 7 series.

Here is an encapsulated review of last night's games.

MEXICO 8     PUEBLA 4

Michael Choice

The Diablos tied the game at 4 all in the 4th and went on to beat the Pericos 8-4 to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Michael Choice, the Diablos DH, was 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, a home run and 5 RBIs for Mexico.Puebla managed 12 hits but a double by Antonio Lamas was their only extra base hit. Octavio Acosta (1-0) picked up the win in relief of starter Luis Mendoza, while Josh Outman (0-1) was charged with the loss.

OAXACA 4     YUCATAN 1

The Guerreros scored 4 times in the op of the 8th inning and cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Leones. Oaxaca leads this 1st round series 1 game to none. Yuniesky Betancourt went 1 for 4 with 2 RBIs for the Guerreros while Leo Heras was 2 for 4 for Yucatan in a losing effort. Alex Delgado (1-0) got the win and Carlos Felix was credited with a save. Arcenio Leon (0-1) took the loss for the Leones.

MONTERREY 7     TIJUANA 4 

Ramiro Pena was 2 for 5 with a home run and 3 RBIs for the Sultanes as they took a 1-0 lead in the Zona Norte playoff battle. Chris Roberson, Augustin Murillo and Jose Amador also went deep for Monterrey. Frederich Cepeda went 2 for 4 with a home run and 2 RBIs for the Toros. Rafael Ordaz (1-0) picked up the win in relief of starter Anthony Vasquez and Wirfin Obispo garnered a save. Carlos Hernandez (0-1) was charged with the loss.

Rafael  Ordaz

MONCLOVA 11     DOS LAREDOS 10 (10 innings)

The visiting Tecolotes scored 8 runs in the top of the 7th inning but couldn't hold on and fell to the Acereros 11-10 in 10 innings.Francisco Peguero hit the 1st pitch he saw with 2 outs in the bottom of the 10th inning to give Monclova the walk off win. Peguero was 3 for 5 with the home run and 4 RBIs. Josh Rodriguez, the Tecolotes shortstop, homered in the 9th inning to force extra innings. Rodriguez went 3 for 5 with 2 RBIs in a losing cause. Mario Morales (1-0) earned the win while Tyson Perez (0-1) was charged with a blown save and took the loss. Monclova takes a 1-0 lead in the Zona Norte playoff series.

Aguilas de Mexicali to Compete in 2018 Mexican Baseball Fiesta

1st OF A 4 PART SERIES ON THE TEAMS COMPETING

Four teams from the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico (LMP) will be competing at this year's Mexican Baseball Fiesta in Tucson, along with the Arizona Wildcats baseball team and the young stars of the Kansas City Royals. This series of articles will focus on the teams from the LMP

First up are the Aguilas de Mexicali. With a population of 689,000, Mexicali, the capital city of Baja California, is located about 60 miles west of Yuma, Az and just a few miles south of Calexico, CA. The city has been a hotbed of baseball tradition since it's founding in 1976. The team has won the LMP Championship four times and competed in the Serie del Caribe each time, winning it all in 1986.

Interestingly, the team is owned by the State Government of Baja California. Although most Mexican teams are supported by the local governments, The Aguilas are owned lock, stock and barrel by the state government. The Aguilas play is Estadio B'Air, a 17,000 seat venue in downtown Mexicali. For the 2017-18 winter season, the Aguilas drew an average of 13,242 fans per night. Compare that to the Round Rock Express of the Pacific Coast League who had 8,809 fans show up each night.

There have been quite a few future major leaguers play winter ball in Mexico. Some of those who played for the Aguilas were, Mike Piazza, John Kruk, Fernando Valenzuela, Sergio Romo and Jeff Samardzija.

Luis Sojo, who played in the MLB for several seasons, will pilot the Aguilas for the 2018-19 season.

This year's team will have some "extranjeros", or foreigners, playing for them.

Retherford at the plate

CJ Retherford, born in Homestead, FL, attended Arizona State and has played for the Aguilas for 3 seasons, hitting 31 home runs, driving in 112 runs while batting .282.

Yuniesky Betancourt hit .261, accumulated 80 home runs and drove in 477 while playing for 4 teams in the MLB.

39 year old Chris Roberson appeared in 157 games for the Philadelphia Phillies and has played for 13 seasons in the Mexican leagues. Roberson has hit 146 home runs and driven in 668 runs while compiling a .280 average.

Roberson safe at home on a close play

The Aguilas are an explosive offensive team and should be fun to watch at this year's Mexican Baseball Fiesta.

You can buy tickets at www.mexicanbaseballfiesta.com

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6 "Extranjeros" Hope to Bring the LMB Championship to Merida

NO PLAYERS ON THE ROSTER FROM THE US

Willie Romero

The Leones de Yucatan, under the 2016 Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (LMB) Manager of the Year Willie Romero’s leadership, hope to make 2017 the year the Serie del Rey returns to Merida.

Romero led the Leones to a 77-33 record in 2016. The team beat the Piratas de Campeche in the 1st round of the Zona Sur Playoffs but lost 4 games to 2 to the eventual league champion Pericos de Puebla in the division finals.

Yoanner Negrin

Leading the push for the championship this LMB season will be 6 “extranjeros” or foreign born players. Headlining this list is Yoanner Negrin, last year’s LMB Pitcher of the Year. Born in Havana Cuba, Negrin went 18-1 a year ago with 4 complete games and 3 shutouts. Negrin set a Leones record with a 38 ⅓ inning scoreless streak. Yoanner struck out 92 batters while walking just 37. A return to this form will go a long way towards the Leones’ championship hopes.

Jairo Asencio

33 year old pitcher Jairo Asencio, from the Dominican Republic, adds depth to the Leones starting rotation. Asencio has played in the “Liga Grande” (Major League Baseball) for the Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs and the Baltimore Orioles.

Ronald Belisario

Ronald Belisario, the 34 year old from Maracay Venezuela compiled a 3.85 Earned Run Average (ERA) in 341 games in the big leagues for the LA Dodgers, Chicago White Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays. He also tallied 12 saves and struckout 273 batters in his career.

Jordany Valdespin

Outfielder Jordany Valdespin, hailing from San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican republic, has played for the NY Mets and the Miami Marlins in his big league career. In 10 years as a pro, Valdespin amassed 950 hits, 79 home runs, 505 runs scored and 416 RBIs.

Yuniesky Betancourt

Yuniesky Betancourt, from Villa Clara Cuba played for the Seattle Mariners from 2006-2009, hitting .289 with 9 HRs and 67 RBIs in 2007. Traded to the KC Royals in 2009, Betancourt hit .269 with 16 home runs and 74 RBIs. Yuniesky finished his major league career in “the bigs” with 1057 hits in 1156 games with 80 HRs while driving in 457 runs. Betancourt ended his MLB career with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2013. Betancourt helped the Aguilas de Mexicali of the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico (LMP) to the league crown and a spot in the Serie Caribe where Mexico finished 2nd to a strong Puerto Rican team.

Jesus "Cacao" Valdez

This brings us to Jesus “Cacao” Valdez, possibly the most popular of the Leones extranjeros. The Dominican from San Cristobal turns 32 this year. In his 1st season in Merida, Valdez won the LMB batting title with a .353 average. He also won the winter league Liga Mexicana del Pacifico’s batting crown in 2015-16 with a .347 average. Cacao began his MLB career in 2003 with the Chicago Cubs. He was in the Cub’s organization until 2007. In 2012 Valdez played in for the Washington Nationals where he hit .263 with 6 home runs and 31 RBIs for the Nationals Triple A affiliate. Cacao took his game worldwide when he played for the Shinano Grandseros of the Japanese major league.

The Leones said goodbye to a very popular extranjero from the 2016 tem...Corey “The Flow” Wimberly.

In 139 games over two years, Wimberly had 174 hits, 40 for extra bases, 129 runs scored and 44 stolen bases. Corey was exciting to watch and contributed mightily to the success of the 2016 season.

If one is interested in the mundane aspect of baseball, such as salaries, the LMB rules for player salaries states that non-US extranjeros be payed a maximum of 150,000 pesos, paid in moneda nacional per month.

The outlook for a repeat of the 2016 season for the Leones is very good. The defending champion Pericos de Puebla should be strong although their manager from a year ago, Cory Snyder, has departed to manage in the Taiwanese Professional League. His replacement, Von Hayes, fired after 25 games from the Pericos in 2015, will have a solid core of players. The Piratas de Campeche are still a couple of players away from the top although they will contend throughout the year and, as always, the Tigres de Quintana Roo will pose a threat to the Leones’ aspirations.

My prediction is that the Leones will finish 75-36, advance to the LMB finals and bring the league trophy back to Merida.       

Aguilas Top Mayos 4-3 In LMP Playoffs

TAKE 3 GAMES TO 2 LEAD BACK TO MEXICALI

The Aguilas de Mexicali scored 2 runs in the 8th inning and held on to beat the Mayos de Navojoa 4-3. Jake Sanchez picked up the win in relief and closer Esmailin Caridad worked out of a 2 on, one out jam in the bottom of the 9th inning to preserve the win. Carlos Bustamante was charged with a blown save and took the loss for Navojoa.

Mexicali took the lead in the top of the 5th inning when Xorge Carrillo doubled to left with 2 outs and scored as Ricky Alvarez reached base safely on a fielding error by the Navojoa shortstop to give the Aguilas a 1-0 lead.

The Mayos responded quickly in their half of the 5th. Jose Amador was hit by a pitch leading off and went to third on a double to right by Carlos Moncrief. Both runners scored on a double by Fernando Flores for a 2-1 lead with no outs. After a coaching visit to the mound, Diego Madero singled on a bunt back to the pitcher that scored Flores when the Aguilas pitcher threw the ball away and the lead was 3-1 Mayos.

The Aguilas scored again in the to of the 6th inning. Chris Roberson singled and went to third on a single by Yuniesky Betancourt that deflected off the glove of the Navojoa shortstop. CJ Retherford followed with a single that scored Roberson and the Mayos lead was cut to 3-2.

Roberson led off the top of the 8th inning for Mexicali by drawing a walk. Carlos Bustamante was brought in to face Betancourt who singled to put runners on first and second with no outs. Retherford's sacrifice bunt moved both runners up a base. Wellington Dotel reached base on a fielder's choice that scored Roberson and got Betancourt to third. Betancourt scored on a wild pitch to give the Aguilas the 4-3 lead and the win.

Betancourt was 3 for 4 with  run scored, Retherford 1 for 3 with an RBI, Ramon Urias 2 for 5 and Xorge Carrillo 2 for 4 with a run scored for the Aguilas.

Fernando Flores went 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs and a run scored for Navojoa while Carlos Moncrief was 2 for 3 with a run scored.

Game 6 will be played in Mexicali on Sunday the 17th and game 7, if necessary, will be played on Monday the 18th,

Charros Lose At Home To Aguilas 3-2

LEO HERAS 3 FOR 4 IN LOSS

Juan Navarrete, the Charros manager, tried to shake the offense up last night. The struggling Manny Rodriguez was dropped from his usual 2nd spot in the order to 5th. Leo Heras was inserted in the 2 hole and Alex Liddi, with his .387 batting average, moved from 5th to 3rd.

The changes produced hits, the 1 through 4 hitters going 8 for 16 on the night, but few runs. The 5 through 9 spots were just 1 for 13. The Charros were just 3 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

Starter Terance Marin

Terance Marin (0-1), the Jalisco starter scattered 10 hits over 5 innings on the mound, giving up all 3 Mexicali runs to take the loss. The Aguilas offense was 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position and they pounded out 14 hits against Marin and 4 relief pitchers.

Juan Espinoza (1-0) replaced the Aguilas starter, Stephen Landazuri in the 5th inning and picked up the win as Esmailin Caridad notched his 1st save of the year.

Wellington Dotel singled to lead off the game for Mexicali and went to third on a single by Walter Ibarra. Dotel scored on a ground out to third by Yuniesky Betancourt to give the Aguilas an early 1-0 lead.

The Aguilas added a run in the top of the 3rd inning as Betancourt lead off with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch by Marin. CJ Retherford's single scored Betancourt and Mexicali led 2-0.

Angel Chavarin got things started for the Charros in the bottom of the 3rd inning with a lead off single. Chavarin moved to second on a ground ball out and advanced to third on a wild pick off attempt by the Mexicali pitcher. Chavarin scored on a single by Eduardo Aredondo to cut the lead to 2-1 Aguilas.

Yuniesky Betancourt hit a one out solo home run, on the 1st pitch he saw from Marin, in the top of the 5th to increase the Mexicali lead to 3-1.

Leo Heras Strokes a Double

Eduardo Arredondo was ruled out at first leading off the bottom of the 5th on a challenge by the Aguilas. This would prove crucial as the next batter, Leo Heras doubled to left and Alex Liddi followed with a single. Heras scored on a single by Japhet Amador to make the score 3-2 but Manny Rodriguez lined into a double play to end the inning with the score 3-2.

The Charros were unable to score in their last 4 at bats and the Aguilas (15-9) held on to beat the Charros (11-13) by that 3-2 score. The Charros have dropped 5 games in a row.

IN OTHER LMP ACTION:

Culiacan 7, Mazatlán 5

The Tomateros used a 4 run 4th inning to top the Venados 7-5. 38 year old former big league pitcher Dennys Reyes (1-1), picked up the win in relief and Ryan Buchter notched his 6th save. Starter Alejandro Soto (2-1) gave up 6 runs on 8 hits while striking out 3 in the loss. Joey Meneses and Sergio Gastelum homered for the Tomateros. Gastelum was 3 for 4, Meneses 2 for 3 and Ali Solis drove in 3 runs on a 1 for 4 night for Culiacan. Jose Ruiz had a home run, went 2 for 3 at the plate, drove in 2 and scored 3 for the Venados.

Ciudad de Obregon 5, Hermosillo 3

Obregon scored twice in the top of the 8th inning off of losing pitcher, Eric Fornataro (0-1) to edge the Naranjeros 5-3. Mark Hamburger (3-2) was charged with his 3rd blown save of the year but got the win in relief. Victor Arano got his 1st save of the year for the Yaquis. JC Linares was 1 for 4 with 2 RBIs for the Naranjeros and Hernando Arredondo went 2 for 5 with the other Hermosillo RBI. Reynaldo Rodriguez was 2 for 4 with his 7th home run of the season, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored while Luis Urias went 2 for 5 with an RBI for the Yaquis. Obregon improved to 12-12 on the year while the Naranjeros fell to 8-16.