By Conor Liguori
World Baseball Network
Jan. 22, 2023
The Caneros de Los Mochis defeated the Algodoneros de Guasave by a score of 9-6 in the opening game of the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico championship series.
Esteban Quiroz gave Algodoneros an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with a solo home run. The second baseman has hit three round-trippers in 20 games played this winter.
Juan Uriarte drove in the tying run in the bottom of the second inning for Caneros with an RBI single. Fernando Villegas, who reached on a walk two batters prior, came around to score the run. Villegas advanced into scoring position on a fielder’s choice.
Caneros would strike again in the bottom of the fourth inning, taking a 4-1 lead on a three-run home run from Uriarte. Algodoneros starting pitcher Nico Tellache hung a curveball in the middle of the zone, and the designated hitter took advantage of the mistake pitch.
Uriarte was the final batter Tellache faced. In 3.1 innings, the lefty gave up five earned runs on five hits, walked two, and struck out four. In relief of Tellache, Jesus Huerta walked the first two batters he faced to load the bases. He would only record one out, and gave up one earned run.
Shortstop Roberto Valenzuela laced a single to left field with the bases loaded to extend the Caneros lead to 6-1. Bruce Maxwell and Isaac Rodriguez came across to score on the play. With runners on first and third with two outs, Algodoneros shortstop Juan Carlos Gamboa bobbled a ground ball hit directly at him to make it 7-1 in favor of Caneros. Justin Dean scored the run from third on the error.
Sebastian Elizalde shrunk the Caneros lead to three in the top of the fifth with a huge three-run home run. Julian Ornelas and Esteban Quiroz both walked to start the inning, helping jumpstart a productive half-inning for Algodoneros.
Caneros would answer right back in the bottom of the inning with two runs of their own. Wagner Lagrange made it 8-4 with an RBI double, scoring Juan Uriarte from first, who singled to lead off the inning. Lagrange would move to third with a ground out, and score one play later with an RBI groundout from Justin Dean.
Neither pitching staff was particularly efficient in the contest. The Caneros staff gave up nine hits, while Algodoneros gave up 12. Caneros starter Manny Barreda allowed four earned runs and walked four in 4.2 innings. Anthony Herrera allowed two earned runs in two-thirds of an inning out of the bullpen for Algodoneros. Juan Gomez was credited with the save for Caneros, shutting down the Algodoneros lineup in the ninth inning.
Game 2 will be played on Sunday, January 22 at 7 p.m. EST.
