Diablos Rojos del Mexico 9, Pericos de Puebla 3 – Julian Ornelas and Aristedes Aquino each hit a solo homer in the second, Rio Ruiz added a solo homer of his own in the seventh, and the Diablos Rojos scorched the Pericos de Puebla to sweep their second round series with a 9-3 win in game four.
Starter Brooks Hall allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks over 3 2/3 innings, but the Diablos’ bullpen was nearly perfect, allowing no hits over the remaining 5 1/3 innings, with a pair of sixth-inning walks issued by Kevin Gowdy the only blemishes.
Hall left the game with a 5-3 lead, with Nick Vespi coming on to throw 1 1/3. Vespi was awarded the win after the Diablos got three runs in the fifth, one on an RBI double by Ruiz, one when Carlos Perez scored on a wild pitch, and one on an error at third base by Puebla’s Eduardo Torrealba that allowed Ruiz to score.
The Diablos will await the winner of the series between Campeche and Oaxaca.
Sultanes de Monterrey 8, Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos 6 – Josh Lester’s two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth pushed the Sultanes past the Tecos in game four, giving the Grey Ghosts a sweep of their second round series.
Lester went 3-fro-4 with three RBIs, also knocking and RBI single in the first. Former Boston Red Sox infielder Gustavo Nunez went 3-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, and two runs scored for Monterrey, which lost its first round series to the Charros de Jalisco but bounced back with a strong performance against Dos Laredos.
Entering in relief in the first, Luis Cessa threw 4 2/3, allowing one run on eight hits with three strikeouts for Monterrey, which will face the winner of the series between the Charros de Jalisco, who beat Monterrey in the first round four games to three, and the Algodoneros de Union Laguna.
Dos Laredos’ Yadiel Hernandez hit a two-run homer in the first and Allen Cordoba hit a solo homer in the sixth.
Algodoneros de Union Laguna 9, Charros de Jalisco 3 – On a night where they needed production to say alive, the Algodoneros got six hits and eight RBIs from the bottom third of the order, taking game four from the Charros and extending their second-round series with a 9-3 win.
No. 7 hitter Jonathan Villar went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Hendrik Clementina and Julian Escobedo each had three hits and three RBIs for the Algodoneros, with Escobedo punctuating the win with a three-run homer in the eighth.
Game five is Thursday at 9:30 p.m. EDT. Starters for both teams have yet to be announced.
Guerreros de Oaxaca 5, Piratas de Campeche 4 (10 Innings) – Alexi Amarista’s RBI single in the 10th inning pushed Oaxaca past Campeche and gave the Guerreros a three-games-to-two lead in the series.
The Guerreros got out to a 4-0 lead early, with Nelson Velasquez driving in Emilio Bonifacio in the first. In the second, a two-run double from Yonathan Daza drove in Ricardo Valenzuela and Jorge Flores, and a single by Bonifacio sent Daza home.
A solo homer in the sixth by Felix Perez and a three-run shot in the seventh by Jesus Fabela tied the game at four apiece.
Starter Radhames Liz went five scoreless innings for Oaxaca, allowing three hits, three walks, and striking out five.
Game six is Wednesday at 9 p.m. EDT in Oaxaca. Starters for both teams have yet to be announced.
Where to Watch – All LMB games are streamed on LMB.tv for a fee. The series between the Guerreros de Oaxaca and Piratas de Campeche is being streamed live on YouTube via Claro Sports.
Liga Mexicana de Beisbol Second Round Playoff Schedule
All Times Eastern Daylight Time
* – If Necessary
Wednesday, August 20
Sultanes de Monterrey 11, Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos 2
Diablos Rojos del Mexico 7, Pericos de Puebla 2
Guerreros de Oaxaca 15, Piratas de Campeche 1
Charros de Jalisco 9, Algodoneros de Union Laguna 3
Thursday, August 21
Sultanes de Monterrey 3, Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos 1
Diablos Rojos del Mexico 8, Pericos de Puebla 2
Guerreros de Oaxaca 8, Piratas de Campeche 7
Charros de Jalisco 7, Algodoneros de Union Laguna 4
Saturday, August 23
Diablos Rojos del Mexico 13, Pericos de Puebla 6
Sultanes de Monterrey 11, Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos 1
Piratas de Campeche 5, Guerreros de Oaxaca 3
Charros de Jalisco 8, Algodoneros de Union Laguna 1
Sunday, August 24
Algodoneros de Union Laguna at Charros de Jalisco – Suspended due to rain
Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos at Sultanes de Monterrey – Suspended due to rain
Piratas de Campeche 4, Guerreros de Oaxaca 0
Monday, August 25
Diablos Rojos del Mexico 9, Pericos de Puebla 3
Sultanes de Monterrey 8, Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos 6
Algodoneros de Union Laguna 9, Charros de Jalisco 3
Guerreros de Oaxaca 5, Piratas de Campeche 4 (10 Innings)
Tuesday, August 26
9:30 p.m. – Algodoneros de Union Laguna at Charros de Jalisco – Game 5*
Wednesday, August 27
9 p.m. – Piratas de Campeche at Guerreros de Oaxaca – Game 6*
Thursday, August 28
9 p.m. – Piratas de Campeche at Guerreros de Oaxaca – Game 7*
9:30 p.m. – Charros de Jalisco at Algodoneros de Union Laguna – Game 6*
Friday, August 29
9:30 p.m. – Charros de Jalisco at Algodoneros de Union Laguna – Game 7*
Photo: Diablos Rojos closer Tomohiro Anraku and catcher Carlos Perez celebrate their sweep of the Pericos de Puebla on Monday. (Photo courtesy of the Diablos Rojos del Mexico)
