Lenadores de Las Tunas 17, Kane County Cougars 10 – Rare is the game where a starting pitcher coughs up eight runs over four innings and leaves the game with a lead, but Yadian Martinez did just that for the Lenadores, keeping them in another shootout where their powerful lineup carried them to victory. Yosvany Alarcon hit a grand slam in the eight-run third inning for Las Tunas, and then four successive RBI singles got the Cuban club a 9-2 lead. They added six more over the next three innings and two more in the eighth, and reliever Frank Media threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits with a walk and five strikeouts to earn the win.
Brantley Bell, Dayson Croes, and Dillon Thomas each homered for Kane County in the loss.
Diablos Rojos del Mexico 17, Santa Maria Pirates 8 – The Diablos jumped out two a 9-0 lead in the first two innings and held on for a victory that was never really in doubt. Luis Liberato, Robinson Cano, Aristedes Aquino, and Jose Rondon each homered for the Diablos, who scored their 17 runs on 20 hits and nine walks.
On the mound, the Diablos lifted starter Zac Grotz after three scoreless innings, and got solid work out of the bullpen, save for the eighth inning, when Ricky Karcher struggled and allowed seven runs on five hits and a walk over 1/3 of a frame.
Santa Maria’s pitchers struggled, as they had all week, with starter Scott Prins allowing eight runs on nine hits and two walks over an inning and a third.
See You On Sunday Afternoon For All The Marbles – The Diablos will face the Lenadores at 4 p.m. EDT Sunday in the championship game, with righty Andy Vargas starting for Las Tunas against Jose Luis Bravo for Mexico. Vargas threw 63 innings for the Industriales in the Serie Nacional last season, posting a 2.86 ERA with 53 strikeouts against 30 walks and a WHIP of 1.127. Bravo made 11 starts for the Diablos last season, posting a 4.47 ERA in 52 1/3 innings with 30 strikeouts, 16 walks, and a WHIP of 1.261.
The final presents an interesting matchup: The high-powered bats of Las Tunas, which have flourished in the thin air of Mexico City, against the arms of the Diablos Rojos, the only pitching staff that has managed to looked effective at the Baseball Champions League Americas. The Diablos lineup, however, is just as powerful as the Lenadores, if not more so, so the game will really come down to the Las Tunas pitching staff. If they can hold the Diablos to less than 10 runs, the Lenadores should win. But if the game ends up being yet another shootout, the Reds have a lineup that might beat the Cuba national team.
As John Sterling was so fond of saying on the radio, “You can’t predict baseball.”
Remaining Schedule at the BCL Americas
Saturday, April 12
4 p.m. EDT – Semifinal 1 – Group A Winner vs. Winner of Friday Matinee
7:30 p.m. – Semifinal 2 -Group B Winner vs. Winner of Friday Nightcap
Sunday, April 13
2 p.m. – Championship Game
Broadcast Info – The 2025 Baseball Champions League Americas will be broadcast on Fubo Sports Network, RYZ Network, and streamed live on AAbaseball.tv.
Photo: Robinson Cano and the Diablos Rojos advanced to the finals of the 2025 Baseball Champions League Americas in Mexico City with a 17-8 victory against the Santa Maria Pirates. (Photo courtesy of the Diablos Rojos del Mexico)
