Diablos Rojos del Mexico 8, Pericos de Puebla 2 – Starter Ricardo Pinto went five innings, allowing one run on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts, and Juan Carlos Gamboa went 2-for-4 with two runs scored as the Diablos won their sixth straight playoff game and took a 2-0 series lead on Puebla.
Phillip Ervin homered for Puebla in the fourth, and Estamy Urena scored on an error by Gamboa, playing shortstop for the Reds, in the eighth.
The Diablos bullpen allowed one run on two hits and two walks over the final four innings.
The series now heads to Puebla, where game three is scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m. EDT at Estadio Hermanos Serdan, with Justin Courtney starting for the Diablos against Cleiverth Perez for the Pericos.
Sultanes de Monterrey 3, Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos 1 – Former Pittsburgh Pirate Manny Banuelos threw five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks, and extra-base hits from Zoilo Almonte and Josh Lester in the sixth drove in runs to push the Sultanes to a two-games-to-none series lead.
Lester had an RBI triple and Almonte an RBI double for Monterrey, who won the Zona Sur in the regular season and advanced despite losing their first round series to sixth-place Jalisco.
In total, the Monterrey pitching staff limited Dos Laredos to just four hits and five walks, with the Tecos’ lone run coming with the bases loaded in the eighth when Jose Cardona hit into a fielder’s choice in front of the plate.
Game three is Saturday in Monterrey at Walmart Park, with Junior Guerra starting for Dos Laredos against Stephen Tarpley for Monterrey. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. EDT.
Guerreros de Oaxaca 8, Piratas de Campeche 7 – Four runs in the bottom of the seventh gave the Guerreros de Oaxaca an 8-7 lead, and ultimately, a win in game two of their second round series against Campeche.
Nelson Velasquez had two homers for Oaxaca, including a two-run shot off former Major Leaguer Ken Giles in the seventh, as the Guerreros rallied from a three-run deficit to take a 2-0 series lead. A throwing error by Piratas’ shortstop Christian Ibarra while trying to turn a double play allowed the Guerreros’ other two runs to score in the seventh, putting them ahead for good.
After the Piratas chased starter Oaxaca starter Alemao Hernandez after 1 2/3 innings and four runs, seven pitchers from the Guerreros bullpen threw 7 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits.
Luis Miranda will start game three for Oaxaca against Sho Itoh for Campeche when the series resumes Saturday night at 8 p.m. EDT.
Charros de Jalisco 7, Algodoneros de Union Laguna 4 – Mateo Gil went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, his second homer of the playoffs, plus two runs scored and two RBIs as the Charros topped Union Laguna to take a two-game lead in the series.
Michael Wielansky had an RBI double for the Charros in the fifth, and Willie Calhoun contributed an RBI single.
Union Laguna starter Jaime Barria allowed four runs on five hits with a walk and two strikeouts over four innings of work, while Didi Gregorius hit a solo homer in the fifth and Drew Lugbauer hit a two-run homer in the eighth for the Algodoneros.
Game three will feature Union Laguna’s Richardo Sanchez starting against Luis Payan for Jalisco, with the game scheduled for 8 p.m. EDT Saturday at Guadalajara’s Estadio Panamericano.
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
6 p.m. – Diablos Rojos del Mexico at Pericos de Puebla – Game 3
8 p.m. – Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos at Sultanes de Monterrey – Game 3
8 p.m. – Guerreros de Oaxaca at Piratas de Campeche – Game 3
8 p.m. – Algodoneros de Union Laguna at Charros de Jalisco – Game 3
Sunday, August 24
4 p.m. – Diablos Rojos del Mexico at Pericos de Puebla – Game 4
7 p.m. – Algodoneros de Union Laguna at Charros de Jalisco – Game 4
8 p.m. – Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos at Sultanes de Monterrey – Game 4
8 p.m. – Guerreros de Oaxaca at Piratas de Campeche – Game 4
Monday, August 25
9 p.m. – Diablos Rojos del Mexico at Pericos de Puebla – Game 5*
9:30 p.m. – Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos at Sultanes de Monterrey – Game 5*
9:30 p.m. – Algodoneros de Union Laguna at Charros de Jalisco – Game 5*
9:30 p.m. – Guerreros de Oaxaca at Piratas de Campeche – Game 5*
Wednesday, August 27
8:30 p.m. – Sultanes de Monterrey at Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos – Game 6*
9 p.m. – Pericos de Puebla at Diablos Rojos del Mexico – Game 6*
9 p.m. – Piratas de Campeche at Guerreros de Oaxaca – Game 6*
9:30 p.m. – Charros de Jalisco at Algodoneros de Union Laguna – Game 6*
Thursday, August 28
9 p.m. – Sultanes de Monterrey at Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos – Game 7*
9 p.m. – Pericos de Puebla at Diablos Rojos del Mexico – Game 7*
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 7*
Photo: Ricardo Pinto threw five innings for the Diablos allowing one run on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts in game three. (Photo courtesy of the Diablos Rojos del Mexico)
