The three-game set over the weekend between the Guerreros de Oaxaca and the Conspiradores de Queretaro marked the opening of Estadio Yu’va, the new home of the Guerreros that was built on the site of the former Estadio Eduardo Vasconcelos in Oaxaca City.
Architecturally striking, the ballpark features an artificial playing surface made by FieldTurf, 8,000 seats, and 18 suites, as well as modern video and audio systems and a team museum.
While the new ballpark was expected to open in April, construction delays pushed the opening back to this weekend and forced the Guerreros to juggle their schedule a bit, swapping some series with opponents and playing a home series at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu in Mexico City. Friday evening’s scheduled game, which was supposed to be the grand opening of the new ballpark, was postponed by rain to Saturday, so the Estadio Yu’va opened with a doubleheader of which the Guerreros won both games. Wueretaro’s Dwight Smith Jr. hit the first homer in the new ballpark, a solo shot in the first inning of the first game, and Mel Rojas Jr. hit a grand slam in the fifth inning of the second game for the first Guerreros homer in the new stadium.
The Guerreros are owned by the Alfredo Harp Helu Foundation, the charitable foundation created by Alfredo Harp Helu, the founder of Banamex. The foundation also owns the Diablos Rojos del Mexico.
You’re Fired – Two more managers – Puebla’s Darryl Brinkley and Veracruz’s Pedro Mere – left their posts this week, with Brinkley being fired despite the Perico’s being 17-13 and tied for second place at the time he was handed his walking papers. Mere resigned after a 14-4 blowout at the hands of the Diablos Rojos that left El Aguila with a 15-18 record.
Mere’s managerial job was the fifth to turn over this season, meaning that fully 25% of the managers who started the season in the LMB have no been fired or resigned. It’s actually six if you consider that the new Leones de Yucatan manager replaced interim skipper Adulfo Camacho, who was the temporary replacement for Sergio Omar Gastelum. Gastelum was gassed after the Leones’ 11-game losing streak.
Charros de Jalisco (20-14) 9, Sultanes de Monterrey (22-12) 4 – The Charros won the only game on the schedule Monday, getting out to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first and never looking back. Jared Walsh went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, driving in a pair of runs in the first with a double and another in the fourth with his second double of the game. Zac Plesac allowed four hits, struck out three, and walked none over seven scoreless innings for Jalisco.
Notable Series This Week – Two of the top three teams in the Zona Norte, the Charros de Jalisco (20-14) and Sultanes de Monterrey (22-14), are playing a crucial series that started Monday evening, as noted above. The fifth-place Rieleros de Aguascalientes (17-16) host the division-leading Toros de Tijuana (23-9) Tuesday through Thursday.
Over the weekend, the top two teams in the Zona Norte, the Sultanes de Monterrey and the Toros de Tijuana, square off in Baja California, and the Diablos Rojos del Mexico (20-13) host the Conspiradores de Queretaro (14-19) in Mexico City.
Where to Watch – All Liga Mexicana de Beisbol games are streamed live with a subscription on LMB TV, and a season subscription is on sale for MX$799 (about US$46) until April 30. Select games are streamed live on the YouTube page for Latin American network Claro Sports.
Tuesday’s LMB Schedule
All times Eastern Daylight Time
8 p.m. – Acereros de Monclova (18-15) at Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos (17-16)
9 p.m. – Tigres de Quintana Roo (12-21) at Piratas de Campeche (13-20)
9 p.m. – Bravos de Leon (19-14) at Guerreros de Oaxaca (23-10)
9 p.m. – Pericos de Puebla (19-14) at Conspiradores de Queretaro (14-19)
9:10 p.m. – Saraperos de Saltillo (11-21) at Caliente de Durango (15-18)
9:30 p.m. – Diablos Rojos del Mexico (20-13) at Leones de Yucatan (11-22)
9:30 p.m. – Dorados de Chihuahua (10-23) at Algodoneros de Union Laguna (12-21)
9:30 p.m. – Toros de Tijuana (23-9) at Rieleros de Aguascalientes (17-16)
9:30 p.m. – El Aguila de Veracruz (15-18) at Olmecas de Tabasco (19-14)
9:30 p.m. – Sultanes de Monterrey (22-12) at Charros de Jalisco (20-14)
Photo: Ricardo Valenzuela watches one of his two doubles in Sunday’s game between the Guerreros de Oaxaca and Conspiradores de Queretaro at Estadio Yu’va in Oaxaca City. (Photo courtesy of the Guerreros de Oaxaca)
