Olmecas de Tabasco 2, Pericos de Puebla 1 - Tabasco's Jeremy Rhoades and Puebla's Vladimir Gutierrez dueled into the eighth inning, and unfortunately, one of them had to lose.

Both starters threw 7 1/3 innings, with each allowing one earned run and striking out three. Gutierrez allowed two runs on four hits and walked none, while Rhoades allowed one run on five hits and walked none.

Rhoades cruised through his first four innings with just one Puebla batter reaching base. Lorenzo Cedrola got to first in the bottom of the third on an error by Tabasco shortstop Jasson Atondo, but Rhoades easily worked past the error by getting Samar Leyva to hit into a double play.

A fielding error in the top of the fourth on Puebla shortstop Sergio Alcantara allowed Tabasco's Randy Romero to reach base to start the inning, and Romero promptly stole second then scored when Marco Hernandez followed him with a double to give Tabasco a 1-0 lead.

In the sixth, Rhoades worked out of a minor jam, escaping a first-and-second with two outs situation by striking out Cristhian Adames on three pitches to end the inning.

Phillip Ervin's one-out single in the top of the eighth scored Jasson Atondo from second, giving the Olmecas a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth, consecutive singles to start the inning by Sebastian Elizalde and Lorenzo Cedrola followed by a sacrifice bunt by Samar Leyva gave the Pericos runners at second and third with one out. A sac fly by Herlis Rodriguez scored Elizalde to get the Pericos within a run, but it was as close as they would get.

Game 5 is tonight at 9 p.m. EDT at Estadio Hermanos Serdan in Puebla. Daniel Camarena will start for Tabasco against Fernando Lozano for Puebla. A win would send Tabasco to the Serie del Rey for the first time since 1993, the year of the Olmecas' single LMB title.

Where to Watch – All Liga Mexicana de Beisbol games are streamed live with a subscription on LMB TV, and a season subscription is on sale for MX$799 (about US$46) until April 30. Select games are streamed live on the YouTube page for Latin American network Claro Sports.

2026 LMB Serie Campeonato Schedule
All times Eastern Daylight Time
* - If Necessary

Aug. 28
Toros de Tijuana 2, Sultanes de Monterrey 0 - Game 1

Aug. 29
Pericos de Puebla 5, Olmecas de Tabasco 1 - Game 1
Sultanes de Monterrey 4, Toros de Tijuana 0 - Game 2

Aug. 30
Olmecas de Tabasco 4, Pericos de Puebla 3 (11 Innings) - Game 2

Aug. 31
Toros de Tijuana 6, Sultanes de Monterrey 5 (11 Innings) - Game 3

Sept. 1
Olmecas de Tabasco at Pericos de Puebla - Game 3 - Postponed Due to Rain
Toros de Tijuana 15, Sultanes de Monterrey 7 - Game 4

Sept. 2
Olmecas de Tabasco 6, Pericos de Puebla 5 - Game 3
Toros de Tijuana 10, Sultanes de Monterrey 1 - Game 5

Sept. 3
Olmecas de Tabasco 2, Pericos de Puebla 1 - Game 4

Sept. 4
8 p.m. - Olmecas de Tabasco at Pericos de Puebla - Game 5
10:35 p.m. - Sultanes de Monterrey at Toros de Tijuana - Game 6*

Sept. 5
10:35 p.m. - Sultanes de Monterrey at Toros de Tijuana - Game 7*

Sept. 6
9 p.m. - Pericos de Puebla at Olmecas de Tabasco - Game 6*

Sept. 7
9:30 p.m. - Pericos de Puebla at Olmecas de Tabasco - Game 7*