The Diablos Rojos del Mexico evened the Serie Campeonato with the Piratas de Campeche, hanging on for a 6-4 win in game two.
Veteran infielder Robinson Cano went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs for the Diablos, who tied the series at one game apiece.
A pair of sacrifice flies, one by Julian Ornelas and one by Jose Marmolejos, gave the Diablos Rojos a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
The Piratas tied it in the top of the second when Felix Pered launched his ninth homer of the playoffs, scoring Chris Carter and himself.
In the bottom of the third, Cano hit a two-run double to center field, scoring Carlos Sepulveda and Allen Cordoba. A double by Carlos Perez then scored Cano, and the Diablos held a 5-2 lead.
Chris Carter lashed a two-run double to left in the top of the fifth inning, cutting the Diablos’ lead to a single run, but Campeche would never get closer.
Four pitchers from the Diablos’ bullpen allowed combined to allow just two hits and a walk over the final four innings, stifling the Piratas’ bats.
A sac fly in the eighth by Ramon Flores allowed Perez to score an insurance run, and Tomohiro Anraku closed out the win, striking out one and allowing one hit while earning his third save of the postseason.
Game three will be in Campeche on Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. EDT, with Justin Courtney starting for the Diablos Rojos. Campeche has yet to announce a starter.
Charros de Jalisco 11, Sultanes de Monterrey 9 – Leading 8-2 after four innings, the Charros de Jalisco let the Sultanes tie the game with six runs in the top of the fifth before Jalisco scored two in the seventh and one more in the eighth to take game one.
Mateo Gil went 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored, and three RBIs, and Josh Fuentes went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer in the seventh and two RBIs for Jalisco.
Monterrey’s big fifth inning came started with an RBI single by Christopher Escarrega, then an error at first base by Kyle Garlick on Ramiro Pena’s grounder allowed Escarrega to score. Josh Lester then singled in Gustavo Nunez, and Victor Mendoza capped the frame with a three-run homer to left center that tied the game at eight.
Fuentes’ homer in the seventh gave the Charros a 10-8 lead.
In the top of the eighth, an RBI single by Gustavo Nunez drew the Sultanes within one, but Mateo Gil added insurance in the bottom of the inning with a sac fly that scored Mallex Smith.
Monterrey’s Manny Banuelos will start game two tonight at 9:30 p.m. EDT against Jalisco’s Eduardo Vera.
Where to Watch – All LMB games are streamed on LMB.tv for a fee. The series between Monterrey and Jalisco is streamed live for free on YouTube via Claro Sports.
Serie Campeonato Full Schedule
All times Eastern Daylight Time
* – If Necessary
August 30
Piratas de Campeche 4, Diablos Rojos del Mexico 2
August 31
Diablos Rojos del Mexico 6, Piratas de Campeche 4
Charros de Jalisco 11, Sultanes de Monterrey 9
September 1
9:30 p.m. – Sultanes de Monterrey at Charros de Jalisco – Game 2
September 2
9:30 p.m. – Diablos Rojos del Mexico at Piratas de Campeche – Game 3
September 3
9:30 p.m. – Diablos Rojos del Mexico at Piratas de Campeche – Game 4
9:30 p.m. – Charros de Jalisco at Sultanes de Monterrey – Game 3
September 4
9:30 p.m. – Diablos Rojos del Mexico at Piratas de Campeche – Game 5*
9:30 p.m. – Charros de Jalisco at Sultanes de Monterrey – Game 4
September 5
9:30 p.m. – Charros de Jalisco at Sultanes de Monterrey – Game 5*
September 6
6 p.m. – Piratas de Campeche at Diablos Rojos del Mexico – Game 6*
September 7
4 p.m. – Piratas de Campeche at Diablos Rojos del Mexico – Game 7*
7 p.m. – Sultanes de Monterrey at Charros de Jalisco – Game 6*
September 8
9:30 p.m. – Sultanes de Monterrey at Charros de Jalisco – Game 7*
Photo: The Diablos Rojos del Mexico bounced back from their first loss of the playoffs with a 6-4 win against the Piratas de Campeche in game two of the Serie Campeonato. (Photo courtesy of the Diablos Rojos del Mexico)
