Jose Pirela celebrates one of his three home runs in game four of the Serie de Campeonato against Oaxaca. (Photo courtesy of the Diablos Rojos del Mexico.)
Diablos Rojos del Mexico 16, Guerreros de Oaxaca 5 – The Diablos Rojos snapped their first three-game losing streak of 2024, and did it in a big way, clubbing seven homers, including three by Jose Pirela, to win game four of the Serie de Campeonato.
Franklin Barreto sent the first pitch of the game into the left field seats for his second homer of the playoffs, and three batters later, Pirela hit his first of the game, a two-run shot to left field that scored Jose Marmolejos.
The Diablos scored six runs in the top of the fourth, getting a solo homer from Gabriel Gutierrez and a two-run shot from Marmolejos, his fourth of the playoffs.
Pirela’s second homer of the game, a solo shot to left center field in the top of the sixth, made it 10-3.
His third of the game and fifth of the playoffs came in the top of the ninth, a solo homer to center field, and three batters later, Diosbel Arias hit a three-run homer to center field to make it 16-5.
The Diablos Rojos got 16 hits in the game and drew 11 walks as they chewed up the Guerreros’ pitching staff. Oaxaca sent nine different pitchers to the mound, with only two, relievers Henderson Alvarez and Johan Quezada, not giving up a run.
With the win, the Diablos trail the Guerreros 3-1 in the series. They’ll send Trevor Bauer to the mound Thursday night for game five against Oaxaca’s Solomon Bates.
Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos 6, Sultanes de Monterrey 1 – Cade Gotta drove in the game’s first run with an RBI double, scored the winner on a wild pitch, and Kennys Vargas hit a three-run homer as the Tecolotes won game five of the Serie de Campeonato at UniTrade Stadium Wednesday.
Luis Sardinas added an RBI double in the eighth to give Dos Laredos a 6-0 lead.
Tecos starter Robert Stock allowed three hits over six scoreless innings, walking one and striking out five. The only blemish on the Dos Laredos’ pitchers’ evening was a solo homer by Asael Sanchez hit off Sam Bordner in the bottom of the eighth inning.
The series heads back to Monterrey and Estadio Exxon Mobil Super for game six, which is scheduled for Friday night at 10:30 p.m. EDT. Nate Antone will start for the Tecos, while the Sultanes have yet to announce a starting pitcher.
