LMB: Five Teams Take 2-0 Series Leads; Algodoneros Even Series With Toros

Diablos Rojos del Mexico 12, Leones de Yucatan 1 – It was a close game, at least until the bottom of the seventh, when the Diablos Rojos put up 10 runs — eight of them coming with two outs — and sent 16 batters to the plate as Mexico gave the Leones’ bullpen hell in the late innings. Eight of the 16 batters in the Diablos’ big inning reached on walks, and the Diablos only had three extra base hits, but they now lead the series 2-0. Game three is scheduled for Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. EDT in Merida, where Justin Courtney will start for the Diablos, while the Leones haven’t yet announced a starting pitcher.

Charros de Jalisco 10, Sultanes de Monterrey 2 – Ryan Garlick went 1-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored, three RBIs, and a two-run homer as the Charros took a 2-0 series lead over the Zona Norte-winning Sultanes Sunday night. Seven Jalisco pitchers combined to allow two runs on seven hits and five walks in the win. The series moves to Guadalajara, where Tuesday’s game three is scheduled for a 9:30 p.m. EDT start with Monterrey’s Justus Sheffield facing Jalisco’s Luis Payan.

Guerreros de Oaxaca 9, El Aguila de Veracruz 3 – Reynaldo Rodriguez hit a solo homer and Ricardo Valenzuela launched a three-run shot, both during a five-run second inning, as Oaxaca took a 2-0 series lead on Veracruz. Jorge Flores added a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth, and the Guerreros never trailed. The series resumes in Veracruz Tuesday night at 9 p.m., with Esmil Rogers starting for El Aguila. Oaxaca hasn’t named a starter.

Piratas de Campeche 3, Pericos de Puebla 2 – Francisco Pena’s solo homer in the bottom of the fifth held up as the winning run for the Piratas. Puebla yanked starter Francisco Lozano after allowing two runs on two hits and a walk in the first after retiring just one batter, but the Pericos’ bullpen kept them in the game, allowing one run on three hits and five walks over 8 2/3 innings. Puebla stranded 10 runners and went 0-for-9 at the plate with runners in scoring position. Game three is Tuesday in Puebla at 9 p.m. EDT.

Acereros de Monclova 4, Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos 3 – Rodolfo Amador’s two-out single brought home Santiago Chavez with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as the Acereros came back from a 3-2 deficit and took a 2-0 series lead from the Tecos. Matt McDermott’s second homer of the playoffs in the top of the eighth tied the game for Dos Laredos, and Italo Motta gave the Tecos the lead in the ninth, scampering home on a wild pitch. Game three is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Uni-Trade Stadium in Laredo, Texas, with Austin Warner getting the start for Monclova against Junior Guerra for Dos Laredos.

Algodoneros de Union Laguna 4, Toros de Tijuana 2 – Jonathan Villar hit a pair of solo homers, one in the third and one in the fifth, and Adrian Tovalin hit a solo homer in the fourth, as the Algodoneros used the long ball to beat former Major Leaguer Domingo German. Rangel Ravelo’s second homer of the playoffs got the Toros on the board in the fifth, but wasn’t enough. The series heads to Torreon Tuesday, where game three will start at 9:30 p.m. EDT, with Teddy Stankiewicz starting for Tijuana against Travis Lakins Sr. for Union Laguna.

Liga Mexicana de Beisbol First Round Playoff Schedule
All Times Eastern Daylight Time
* – If Necessary

August 9
Diablos Rojos del Mexico 13, Leones de Yucatan 3
Guerreros de Oaxaca 18, El Aguila de Veracruz 11
Piratas de Campeche 7, Pericos de Puebla 0
Charros de Jalisco 5, Sultanes de Monterrey 3
Acereros de Monclova 20, Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos 3
Toros de Tijuana 7, Algodoneros de Union Laguna 2

August 10
Diablos Rojos del Mexico 12, Leones de Yucatan 1
Guerreros de Oaxaca 9, El Aguila de Veracruz 3
Piratas de Campeche 3, Pericos de Puebla 2
Charros de Jalisco 10, Sultanes de Monterrey 2
Acereros de Monclova 4, Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos 3
Algodoneros de Union Laguna 4, Toros de Tijuana 2

August 11
No Games Scheduled

August 12
8:30 p.m. – Acereros de Monclova at Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos – Game 3
9 p.m. – Piratas de Campeche at Pericos de Puebla – Game 3
9 p.m. – Guerreros de Oaxaca at El Aguila de Veracruz – Game 3
9:30 p.m. – Sultanes de Monterrey at Charros de Jalisco – Game 3
9:30 p.m. – Diablos Rojos del Mexico at Leones de Yucatan – Game 3
9:30 p.m. – Toros de Tijuana at Algodoneros de Union Laguna – Game 3

August 13
9 p.m. – Guerreros de Oaxaca at El Aguila de Veracruz – Game 4
9 p.m. – Piratas de Campeche at Pericos de Puebla – Game 4
9 p.m. – Diablos Rojos del Mexico at Leones de Yucatan – Game 4
9:30 p.m. – Toros de Tijuana at Algodoneros de Union Laguna – Game 4
9:30 a.m. – Sultanes de Monterrey at Charros de Jalisco – Game 4
9:30 p.m. – Acereros de Monclova at Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos – Game 4

August 14
8:30 p.m. – Acereros de Monclova at Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos – Game 5*
9 p.m. – Piratas de Campeche at Pericos de Puebla – Game 5*
9 p.m. – Guerreros de Oaxaca at El Aguila de Veracruz – Game 5*
9:30 p.m. – Diablos Rojos del Mexico at Leones de Yucatan – Game 5*
9:30 p.m. – Toros de Tijuana at Algodoneros de Union Laguna – Game 5*
9:30 a.m. – Sultanes de Monterrey at Charros de Jalisco – Game 5*

August 15
No Games Scheduled

August 16
6 p.m. – Leones de Yucatan at Diablos Rojos del Mexico – Game 6*
7 p.m. – El Aguila de Veracruz at Guerreros de Oaxaca – Game 6*
8 p.m. – Pericos de Puebla at Piratas de Campeche – Game 6*
8 p.m. – Charros de Jalisco at Sultanes de Monterrey – Game 6*
9:45 p.m. – Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos at Acereros de Monclova – Game 6*
10:35 p.m. – Algodoneros de Union Laguna at Toros de Tijuana – Game 6*

August 17
6 p.m. – Leones de Yucatan at Diablos Rojos del Mexico – Game 7*
7 p.m. – El Aguila de Veracruz at Guerreros de Oaxaca – Game 7*
8 p.m. – Pericos de Puebla at Piratas de Campeche – Game 7*
8 p.m. – Charros de Jalisco at Sultanes de Monterrey – Game 7*
9:45 p.m. – Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos at Acereros de Monclova – Game 7*
10:35 p.m. – Algodoneros de Union Laguna at Toros de Tijuana – Game 7*

WBN LMB: /news/category/liga-mexicana-de-beisbol

Photo: A 10-run inning pushed the Diablos Rojos del Mexico past the Leones de Yucatan in game two of their first-round playoff series. (Photo courtesy of the Diablos Rojos del Mexico)