Charros Cruise by Navojoa 8-5

MANNY RODRIGUEZ WITH A GRAND SLAM

Manny Rodriguez

The Charros de Jalisco improved to 8-7 on the season with an 8-5 win over the Mayos de Navojoa on Tuesday night. Manny Rodriguez launched a grand slam in the 2nd inning to give Jalisco a comfortable 5-0 lead. But no lead is safe in the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico.

Navojoa clawed their way back to cut the lead to 5-4 after six innings but Jalisco scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th to add to their lead and get the win. With the loss the Mayos fall to 7-7 on the year.

Amadeo Zazueta hit a solo home run in the 1st for Jalisco, his first of two home runs on the night, to give the Charros the early 1-0 lead. The Rodriguez slam made it 5-0 after two.

Paul Leon doubled to begin the top of the 3rd for Navojoa and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Leon would score on a ground out to begin chipping away at the Jalisco lead.

The Mayos scored twice in the 4th, on a ground ball out that drove in Elmer Reyes and a single off the bat of Leon that plated Luis Fonseca. Another run in the 6th cut the Charros' lead to 5-4.

Jalisco scored 3 times in the 7th, including another solo home run by Zazueta and the Mayos scored a single run in the 8th. That would be all the scoring and the Charros had the 8-5 win.

Vince Molesky (2-0) scattered 7 hits over 5 1/3 innings of work to get the win. Grant Sides earned his 5th save of the campaign. Misael Siverio (0-1) gave up the first 5 runs to the Charros on 6 hits over 5 innings on the mound to take the loss.

Vince Molesky

Mayos Outlast Yaquis 3-2

GOOD PITCHING BY BOTH TEAMS HIGHLIGHT CONTEST

Jaime Lugo

Navojoa's starter, Jaime Lugo pitched well for 5 2/3 innings, allowing a run on 4 hits in his time on the mound but didn't figure in the decision. Esteban Haro (1-0) got the win in relief with Jesus Pirela earning his second save, although not without some drama. Pirela gave up a hit and walked a batter putting the tying run at second with 1 out. Pirela got Sergio Contreras to fly out to short center and struck out Moises Gutierrez to end the game.

Tomo Otosaka doubled in the bottom in the 1st and scored on a single by Jesus Valdez to give Obregon the 1-0 lead.

Luis Fonseca reached first on a force out in the 4th for Navojoa and went to third on a single by Paul Leon. Fonseca scored on a sac fly to tie the game at 1 all.

Paul Leon doubled in the top of the 6th and scored on a single by Elmer Reyes to give the Mayos a 2-1 lead.

Obregon tied the game again in their half of the 7th on a double by Jose Felix and a run scoring single by Moises Gutierrez.

In this seesaw battle, Navojoa retook the lead for good in the top of the 8th inning. Alonzo Harris drew a lead off walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Elmer Reyes. Harris scored  on a double by Victor Mendoza for the 3-2 lead and the eventual win.

Victor Mendoza

11,388 fans packed Nuevo Estadio Yaquis on a hot muggy afternoon only to watch the home town boys fall to 3-5 with the loss as the Mayos improved to 4-3

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.

Mayos Top Venados 3-2 in LMP Playoffs

NAVOJOA TAKES 3 GAMES TO 2 LEAD IN 1ST ROUND GAMES

The Venados de Mazatlán scored 2 runs in the top of the 8th inning off of reliever Carlos Bustamante to tie the game at 2 all but Jesus Castillo hit a lead off home run in the Navojoa half of the inning to pull off the 3-2 win at home.

Jesus Barraza took the loss for Mazatlan and Oscar Felix was credited with the win. Daniel Moskos picked up the save.

Nate Tenbrink Home Run

Jose Chavez walked to lead off the Navojoa 3rd inning and scored, one out later, on a home run to left center by Nate Tenbrink for the early 2-0 lead.

Mazatlán tied the score in the 8th inning on a single by Paul Leon, who scored on a line drive home run to left by Erick Rodriguez.

Castillo's home run in the bottom of the 8th inning proved to be the winning run when Moskos set the Venados down in order in the top of the 9th while striking out 2. With the win, the Mayos take a 3 games to 2 lead in the 1st round of the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico playoffs with game 6 shifting to Mazatlán on Thursday. If a game 7 is necessary, it would be played on Friday in Mazatlán.

Jesus Castillo was 2 for 4 with the home run an Nate Tenbrink had the 2 run home run on a 2 for 4 night at the plate.

Paul Leon was 2 for 2 with a run scored and Erick Rodriguez was 1 for 3 with a home run for Mazatlán.

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Campeche Shuts Out The Leones 5-0

TAKE GAME 4 AND EVEN SERIES AT 2-2

Evan Maclane / Leones Facebook

The #3, 4 and 5 hitters for the Piratas went a combined 8 for 12 at the plate with 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored as Campeche topped the Leones 5-0. The Piratas exploded for 5 runs in the fifth and their pitchers did the rest.

The bottom of the 5th started with a base on balls to Paul Leon who went to second on a sacrifice bunt. Adan Velazquez reached base on an error by the Leones second baseman that got Leon to third. A single by Alfredo Silverio scored Leon. Ronny Paulino singled to drive in Velazquez and CJ Retherford followed with a double to plate Silverio. Paulino and Retherford scored on a single by Roberto Lopez to give Campeche the 5-0 lead and would prove to be all the scoring in the game.

Evan Maclane, the winning pitcher, and 2 relievers held the Leones scoreless on 3 hits while striking out 5.

Alejandro Astorga/ Leones Facebook

Alejandro Astorga worked 4 1/3 innings for the Leones giving up 1 run on 5 hits but walked 4 and struck out just 1.

With the series now tied at 2 games each, the 5th game of the Zona Sur series will be played in Campeche on Sunday he 23rd of August with the winner taking a 3-2 lead back to Merida for game 6 on Tuesday, the 25th.

IN OTHER LMB PLAYOFF ACTION

Quintana Roo 6, Oaxaca 4

The Tigres de Quintana Roo evened their Zona Sur playoff series with the Guerreros de Oaxaca at two games apiece with the help of a 4 run 8th inning, good pitching and 3 Oaxaca errors in the 6-4 win.

Quintana Roo starter, Carlos Bustamante and 4 relief pitchers held the Guerreros to 4 runs on 7 hits while striking out 8.

Mike Jacobs led off the bottom of the 2nd inning with a solo home run to give Oaxaca an early 1-0 lead.

Jose Felix answered the Oaxaca home run with one of his own in the top of the 3rd to knot the score at one all.

After loading the bases in the bottom of the 7th, the Guerreros scored a run to retake the lead on a single by Erick Rodriguez but the Tigres pitchers were able to pitch out of the jam without further damage.

Alfredo Amezaga led off the 8th with a solo shot to right center for the Tigres and Quintana Roo broke the game open with 3 more runs in the inning with the help of 2 walks and 3 Guerreros errors for a 5-2 lead.

Both teams would score in the 8th and 9th innings but the Tigres prevailed in the game 6-4.

Jose Felix and Amezaga homered for the Tigres.

Alejandro Gonzalez was 2 for 4  with a home run and Mike Jacobs added a home run on a 1 for 2 night at the plate for Oaxaca.

Jesus Castillo got the win in relief with Ramon Ramirez notching his second save of the playoffs. Jose Ascanio was charged with a blown save and the loss for the Guerreros.

Jose Ascanio / Guerreros Facebook

The win ensures that the divisional playoffs will return to Cancun for game 6 and game 7 (if necessary) beginning on Tuesday the 25th of August.

Monclova 5, Saltillo 2

The Acereros de Monclova rode the bat of Francisco Cordoba, who went 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs, to a 3 games to 1 lead over the Saraperos de Saltillo in the Zona Norte divisional playoffs on Saturday.

Monclova scored 5 runs in the first 3 innings and let their pitching staff do the rest. The Acereros staff scattered 11 Saltillo hits and struck out 6.

Raul Barron picked up the win in relief, because starter Anthony Capra failed to complete 5 innings, and Juan Noriega notched his second save. Jorge Ibarra gave up 5 runs on 3 hits in 2 1/3 innings for the loss. Ibarra was charged with 1 earned run as the Saraperos defense committed 2 errors behind him.

Cordoba had a 2 run home run in the 2nd for Monclova.

Ramon Ortiz was 2 for 5 with an RBI for Saltillo.

Monclova has an opportunity to take the Zona Norte playoffs in game 6. in Saltillo, on Sunday the 23rd f August.

Tijuana 5, Mexico 1

Jason Urquidez
LMB.com

Jason Urquidez, the Toros starter, held the Diablos to just 1 hit and 1 run over 6 innings to get the win, 5-1, and even the Zona Norte divisional playoff series at 2 games each.

The Toros pitching staff held the 2014 LMB Champions, and winners of 73 regular season games in 2015, to just 3 hits while walking 5 and striking out 6.

The Diablos drew 2 walks in the second inning and scored their only run on a single by Jesus Lopez that drove in Cyle Hankerd. Mexico would not threaten again.

Lew Ford doubled and scored on a single by Jose Chavez in the 5th, Miguel Olivo doubled and scored on a sac fly by Carlos Valencia to take the lead in the 6th and the Toros scored 3 times in the 7th to seal the win.

Arturo Lopez pitched 6 innings for the Diablos and gave up 2 runs on 7 hits to take the loss.

Eduardo Arredondo was 3 for 3 with a run scored and Lew Ford 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored for the Toros.

Jesus Lopez went 2 for 4 with the lone RBI for the Diablos and pinch hitter Samar Leyva had the other hit for Mexico.

The win on Saturday ensures the playoffs ill return to Mexico City on Tuesday the 25th of August with the winner of game 5 on Sunday will hold a 3-2 edge in games. 

Leones Lose 2-1 To Piratas de Campeche

A mistake by Yucatan reliever Eder Llamas, on a 1-1 pitch to Paul Leon, resulted in a solo home that proved to be the difference in the 2-1 Campeche win. Leon added a single and a double on a 3 for 3 night with 2 runs scored for the Piratas. Llamas (2-2) took the loss. Hector Velazquez (3-1) pitched 6 innings of 1 run ball to record the win for Campeche. Ricardo Gomez picked up his 7th save of the year.

Ivan Araujo hit a one out single in the bottom of the 1st and went to third when Hector Gimenez doubled to center field. Araujo scored on a ground ball out to second base by Jesus Valdez and the Leones jumped on top 1-0.

Juan Delgadillo / Leones Facebook

The Yucatan starter, Juan Delgadillo, ran into trouble in the top of the 5th inning. With two outs he gave up a double to Paul Leon and walked Maxwell Leon. After a visit to the mound by the Leones manager, Adan Velazquez singled to right to score Paul Leon and the Piratas had tied the score at 1.

Paul Leon's home run in the top of the 7th proved to be the winning run as Velazquez and three Campeche relievers scattered 5 Leones hits, just three hits after the run was scored in the 1st, while striking out 7 in the win.

Jesus Valdez was 1 for 4 with the RBI for Yucatan.

Paul Leon went 3 for 3 with the home run, an RBI and a run scored for Campeche.

IN OTHER LMB ACTION:

Mexico 10, Saltillo 1
The Diablos Rojos scored 6 runs in the first 2 innings and cruised to a 10-1 win over the Saraperos. Arturo Lopez (4-1) pitched 7 innings allowing just 2 hits and 1 run for the win. Jesus Sanchez (1-1) lasted just 1 1/3 innings in the loss. Ivan Terrazas was 3 for 5 with 4 RBIs and Jesus Fabela went 1 for 3 with a home run and 2 RBIs for Mexico. Ramon Orantes was 1 for 2 with a home run for Saltillo.

Monterrey 1, Monclova 0 (10 innings)
Ricky Avarez hit a walkoff single to score Sergio Perez in the bottom of the 10th, the only run of the game in the Sultanes 1-0 win over the Acereros. Both starters, Jose Oyervidez for the Acereros and Edgar Gonzalez for Monterrey pitched extremely well but neither figured in the decision. Thomas Melgarejo (1-3) got the win and Jose Gallego (0-2) took the loss.

Veracruz 2, Oaxaca 1
The Aguilas scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 3rd and outlasted the Guerreros 2-1. Oscar Verdugo (3-2) scattered 3 hits over 7 1/3 innings to pick up the win and Jose Pina notched his 7th save. Oaxaca starter, Ruddy Acosta (1-3) was saddled with the loss for the Guerreros. Jose Chavez was 2 for 3 with 2 doubles and an RBI for Veracruz. DH Carlos Rivera went 1 for 4 with a home run for Oaxaca.

Ciudad del Carmen 5, Quintana Roo 4
The Delfines upped their winning streak to 5 games while the slumping Tigres dropped their 6th in a row in the 5-4 loss to del Carmen. The Delfines got home runs from Freddy Guzman, Henry Rodriguez and Gerardo Bustamante to withstand a 4 run 8th inning by the Tigres. Iker Franco hit a 2 run home run in that 8th inning for the Tigres. Oscar Rivera (1-3) picked up the win and Josh Lueke earned his 8th save. Rafael Perez (2-3) took the loss for the Tigres.

Rafael Perez / Tigres facebook

Tabasco 2, Puebla 1 (11 innings)
Pedro Diaz came through with a walkoff single in the bottom of the 11th for the Olmecas in a 2-1 win over the Pericos. JC Linares was 2 for 4 with the other RBI for Tabasco. Mario Santana homered for the only Puebla run. Jose Cobos (2-1) got the win in relief and Heberto Gonzalez (1-2) took the loss.

Tamaulipas 5, Laguna 2
Francisco Felix (2-2) went 5 innings for the Broncos allowing just 1 run on 3 hits in the 5-2 win over the Vaqueros. The Broncos used 7 pitchers in the game with Hector Navarro picking up his 2nd save. Felipe Arredondo (2-2) was charged with the loss. Ruben Agramon was 4 for 5 with an RBI, Daniel Hinojosa 2 for 5 with an RBI and DH Frank Diaz homered for the Broncos. Carlos Gonzalez was 1 for 3 with a home run for Laguna.