Trevor Bauer and the Diablos Rojos del Mexico celebrate their 5-2 win against the Leones de Yucatan in game three of the Serie del Zona in Merida, Yucatan. (Photo courtesy of the Diablos Rojos del Mexico.)
Diablos Rojos del Mexico 5, Leones de Yucatan 2 – Trevor Bauer held the Leones de Yucatan to two hits and struck out eight in five innings of work in his Liga Mexicana de Beisbol playoff debut, and the Diablos Rojos del Mexico scored five runs in the eighth inning to take a 3-0 series lead.
The game started 27 minutes late due to rain in Merida, Yucatan.
Patrick Mazeika led off the top of the eighth for Mexico City and hit a solo homer, his second of the playoffs, to right field. Two batters later, Franklin Barreto’s double scored Carlos Sepulveda to make it 2-0. Jose Pirela’s second homer of the playoffs, a three-run shot to left center, completed the scoring for the Diablos.
Yadir Drake and Art Charles each hit solo homers in the bottom of the ninth, but the Leones were unable to complete the comeback and now face elimination in game four.
First pitch for game four is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. EDT Tuesday at Estadio Victor Cervera Pacheco in Merida, Yucatan. Jose Luis Bravo will start for the Diablos Rojos against former Major Leaguer Felix Dubrount for the Leones.
Guerreros de Oaxaca 13, Conspiradores de Queretaro 4 – Queretaro starter Andy Otero has had better nights.
On Monday, he threw just 1 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits, walking one and surrendering two homers, putting the Conspiradores in a hole they couldn’t dig out of.
Oaxaca’s rout gave them a 3-0 series lead, with game four looming tonight.
Luis Barrera and Juniel Querecuto homered in the bottom of the first for Oaxaca off Otero. An inning later, the Guerreros torched Otero for six runs, getting two-run doubles from Jorge Flores and Yariel Gonzalez, an RBI single from Ricardo Valenzuela, and a bases-loaded walk to Roberto Ramos.
Starter Radhames Liz went 6 2/3 innings for Oaxaca, allowing four runs on eight hits, walking one and striking out six.
Game four will start at 9 p.m. EDT tonight, with Richelson Pena starting for Queretaro against Luis Miranda for Oaxaca.
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World Baseball Network’s Coverage of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol: https://worldbaseball.com/league/mexico/
Watch every Liga Mexicana de Beisbol game on YoutubeTV.
