Sultanes de Monterrey 11, Rieleros de Aguascalientes 4 – A two-run double by Jonathan Morales in the fifth, part of a four-run inning, helped push Monterrey past Aguascalientes as the Sultanes completed a four-game sweep in the first round of the Zona Norte playoffs.
Starter Julio Teheran allowed four runs on six hits in six innings for Monterrey, walking two and striking out three.
With the win, Monterrey advances to the second round of the Zona Norte playoffs, which begin August 13. As the Zona Norte champion in the regular season, they’ll face the loser of the series between the Acereros de Monclova or Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos in the second round.
Algodoneros de Union Laguna 6, Toros de Tijuana 2 – Nicholas Torres went 4-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored, and Jonathan Schoop went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two RBIs as Union Laguna eliminated Tijuana on Thursday night.
Albert Lara contributed a solo homer in the seventh, and six Algodoneros came out of the bullpen to allow just two hits and two walks over the final 5 2/3 innings, keeping Tijuana off the board.
With the win, Union Laguna advances to the second round of the Zona Norte playoffs, which begin August 13.
Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos 5, Acereros de Monclova 4 – Rangel Ravelo’s two-run homer in the seventh pushed the Tecos past the Acereros, giving them a 3-2 series lead heading into game six of the series, which will be played Saturday at 8:30 p.m. EDT.
Monclova made it interesting in the ninth, getting three hits off Laredos closer Arnaldo Hernandez and loading the bases before Ramon Hernandez struck out to end the game.
Both teams will advance to the second round of the Zona Norte playoffs, as the loser of this series will have won more games in the first round than the teams that lost the other Zona Norte series. The team that advances despite having lost the first round series will face Monterrey.
Diablos Rojos del Mexico 7, Pericos de Puebla 2 – Aristedes Aquino’s two-run homer in the fourth turned up the heat for the Diablos Rojos, and a three-run fifth inning featuring a solo shot by Juan Carlos Gamboa pushed Mexico City past Puebla, as the Diablos took a commanding 3-0 lead in the series.
Aquino drove in an insurance run with a single in the eighth, and Justin Courtney, Tomohiro Anraku, and Jimmy Yacabonis combined to allow one hit over the final three innings for Mexico City.
The Diablos Rojos will look to complete the sweep tonight at 9 p.m. EDT in Puebla, with Ronnie Williams starting for the Diablos against Vladimir Gutierrez for Puebla.
Guerreros de Oaxaca 11, Leones de Yucatan 4 – An error by Yucatan shortstop Ruben Tejada allowed Oaxaca to take a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, and the Guerreros didn’t look back, adding three runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth, including a three-run homer by Reynaldo Rodriguez, to even the series at two games apiece.
Game five is scheduled for tonight at 9 p.m. EDT, with Odrisamer Despaigne starting for Yucatan against Solomon Bates for Oaxaca.
Conspiradores de Queretaro 4, El Aguila de Veracruz 1 – Kelvin Gutierrez’ grand slam in the ninth drove in all four of Queretaro’s runs, pushing the Conspiradores past El Aguila for a 3-1 series lead.
Queretaro only had eight baserunners in the game, getting four hits and two walks, with two of the men on base for Gutierrez’ homer reaching after being hit by pitches.
Starter Phillips Valdez and relievers Erick Casillas and Ricardo Rodriguez allowed two hits and two walks through eight innings, but closer Julio Fernandez allowed four runs on two hits and hit two batters in the top of the ninth to take the loss.
Queretaro can eliminate Veracruz in game five, which will be played tonight at 9:30 p.m. EDT, with Andy Otero starting for Queretaro against David Reyes for Veracruz.
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