The Diablos Rojos celebrate their third straight win in an elimination game, beating the Guerreros de OAxaca 11-10 in game six of the Serie de Campeonato at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu in Mexico City. (Photo Courtesy of the Diablos Rojos del Mexico)
Down 9-1 to the Guerreros de Oaxaca after three innings, the Diablos Rojos de Mexico made hell freeze over, scoring eight runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie game six of the Serie de Campeonato and adding two more in the sixth to win 11-10 and force a deciding game seven.
The win was the third straight for the Diablos, who lost the first three games of the series and faced elimination.
The fourth inning rally began with a two-run double by Juan Carlos Gamboa, followed by a Franklin Barreto double that scored Gamboa. Robinson Cano’s RBI single to right scored Patrick Mazeika, and then Jose Marmolejos hit a three-run homer to right field that scored Cano and Barreto. In his second at-bat of the inning, Gamboa grounded into a fielder’s choice at third, but Oaxaca third baseman Juniel Querecuto made a throwing error that allowed Jose Pirela to scoot home and tie the game.
In the sixth, RBI singles from Diosbel Arias and Franklin Barreto gave the Diablos an 11-10 lead.
The Diablos bullpen allowed just two hits over the final four innings, shutting down Oaxaca and forcing a deciding game seven.
Game seven is scheduled for 5 p.m. EDT Sunday, with Brooks Hall starting for the Diablos against Luis Miranda for Oaxaca.
Sultanes de Monterrey 8, Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos 7 – Nomar Mazara’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth sent the Sultanes de Monterrey back to the Serie del rey for the second time in three years.
FINAAAAAAAAAAAL DE PELÍCULAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
¡EL BATAZO QUE NOS DA EL CAMPEONATO DEL NORTE, NOMAR MAZARAAAAAAA! pic.twitter.com/ixxO0ciitr
— Sultanes de Monterrey (@SultanesOficial) September 1, 2024
Dos Laredos had tied the game in the top half of the innings, getting a pair of runs on a two-out, bases loaded single by Freddy Galvis.
The Tecos had staked themselves to a 5-0 lead early, torching Monterrey starter Steven Tarpley for three runs in the first and a pair in the second, but the Sultanes bullpen didn’t allow another run until Galvis’ single in the ninth.
Roberto Valenzuela hit a three-run homer in the third to get Monterrey on the board, and the Sultanes added three more in the fourth with an RBI single from Javier Salazar, a sac fly by Ramiro Pena, and another by Valenzuela.
Serie del Rey Begins September 3 – The Serie del Rey will begin September 3. Should the Diablos Rojos del Mexico win Sunday’s game seven, the series would begin at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu in Mexico City, and if the Guerreros de Oaxaca take the Serie de Campeonato, the series will start in Monterrey.
