The umpires suspended game three of the Zona Sur series between Yucatan and the Diablos Rojos del Mexico in the middle of the second inning with Mexico City leading 4-0 due to rain. (Photo Courtesy of the Diablos Rojos del Mexico)
Algodoneros de Union Laguna 17, Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos 1 – Dos Laredos took a 1-0 lead out to the field in the bottom of the first, but shortly after Union Laguna came to bat in the bottom of the first, the game got out of hand.
Dos Laredos starter Emilio Vargas retired just one batter and surrendered five runs, all of them earned, as Union Laguna scored five in the bottom of the first and tacked on two more in the second, another in the third, three more in the sixth and six runs in the seventh, rolling over the Tecos 17-1 in game three to take a 2-1 series lead.
Julian Escobedo, who replaced Aaron Altherr as a pinch runner after Altherr was hit by a pitch from Vargas in the first, went 2-for-5, scoring two runs and driving in five, four of them coming on his grand slam in the bottom of the seventh.
Nicholas Torres went 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBIs and Jonathan Schoop went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in the rout.
Game four is scheduled for 9 p.m. EDT tonight, with Dos Laredos’ Junior Guerra facing Union Laguna’s Braden Webb.
Acereros de Monclova 3, Sultanes de Monterrey 0 – Odubel Herrera’s RBI double in the sixth scored Aldrem Corredor with the only run Monclova would need, though they added two more on Daniel Amaral’s two-run single in the eighth to shut out Monterrey and take a 2-1 series lead on Friday.
Starter Steven Moyers allowed three hits and two walks over five scoreless innings, striking out two, and four Acereros relievers combined to throw four scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks over the final four frames.
Game three is scheduled for 9 p.m. EDT Saturday, with Jared Lakind starting for Monterrey against Edgar Arredondo for Monclova.
Sometimes, It Rains – Both games in the Zona Sur series were suspended on Friday night, as heavy rain hit both Mexico City and Queretaro.
The game between the Diablos Rojos del Mexico and the Leones de Yucatan was suspended after 1 1/2 innings with the Diablos leading 4-0. It will resume today at 6 p.m. EDT, with Robinson Cano leading off the bottom of the second inning when the game resumes.
Queretaro held a 2-1 lead over Oaxaca in the bottom of the eighth when that game was suspended due to rain. Game three of the series will be completed Saturday at 4 p.m. EDT, with Rio Ruiz batting for Queretaro, the bases empty, and two outs.
Due to the suspensions, both Zona Sur series will be pushed back a day, with Sunday becoming a travel day and game three in both series now scheduled for Monday, August 19.
