Winter Ball Playoffs: Tomateros de Culiacan Are Going to the Caribbean Series; Toros del Este One Win From LIDOM Finals

Thursday’s Winter Ball Playoff Results

Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico

Tomateros de Culiacan 8, Algodoneros de Guasave 1 – The Tomateros de Culiacan became the first team to punch their ticket to the 2026 Caribbean Series, completing a sweep of the Algodoneros de Guasave and advancing to the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico finals. In the fifth, Lorenzo Bundy’s squad loaded the bases with two outs, and Ichiro Cano drew a walk from Guasave’s Ethan Lindow to push Luis Verdugo across the plate, and Joey Meneses followed with another walk to score Poncho Ruiz. With Orlando Martinez at the plate, Lindow balked, sending Ramon Rios home, and then Martinez singled home Cano for a 4-0 lead.

Los primeros finalistas🍅

Los @clubtomateros aseguran su pase a la final y van en busca de su título número 14 en la LAMP😎🏆

¡Qué suene el sinaloense!🎉🎵#LigaARCO⚾ pic.twitter.com/aRPMXfQmVJ

— Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico (@Liga_Arco) January 16, 2026

In the top of the sixth, Tyler Jandron replaced Lindow for Guasave, but loaded the bases with one out before Allen Cordoba hit a three-run single to make it 8-0, with Cordoba scoring after left fielder Leo Heras misplayed the ball.

Culiacan starter Luis Cessa threw five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks and striking out three.

Charros de Jalisco 4, Aguilas de Mexicali 2 – Tirso Ornelas and Connor Hollis each had RBI singles in the fourth, with Hollis’ rap driving in a pair of runs, and Reynaldo Rodriguez lined out to left field in the eighth, allowing Ornelas to score for a 4-0 Charros lead. Ronald Medrano, who will play for Nicaragua at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, threw six scoreless innings, allowing two hits and walking four as Jalisco took a 3-1 series lead. Estevan Florial hit a solo homer for Mexicali.

LIDOM 
Toros del Este (10-6) 8, Leones del Escogido (11-5) 5 – The Toros del Este are one win away from clinching a berth in the LIDOM finals after knocking off the round robin-leading Leones on Thursday, rallying from a 5-3 deficit in the bottom of the seventh. Eloy Jimenez tied the game with a ground out to first that allowed Sergio Alcantara to score, and Yairo Munoz followed with a bases-loaded triple to score Bryan De La Cruz, Eddie Rosario, and Eric Filia to give the Toros an 8-5 lead. Joe Corbett allowed one hit and struck out three to earn his sixth save of the playoffs, and Jimmy Yacabonis earned the win for the Toros, throwing a perfect sixth inning.

Aguilas Cibaenas (9-7) 5, Gigantes del Cibao (2-14) 4 – The Aguilas got four in the fourth, capitalizing on a fielding error and a fielder’s choice, then getting a pair of RBI singles, one from Steward Berroa and one from Geraldo Perdomo to take a 4-0 lead. Rodolfo Amador drove in Cristhian Adames with a single in the fifth, and the Aguilas held on for the win. They’ll need to win both of their remaining games and the Toros will have to lose both of their remaining games to advance to the finals.

LBPRC
Cangrejeros de Santurce 6, Leones de Ponce 3 – Click here for a full recap of Game 3 of the LBPRC championship series, which the Cangrejeros lead 3-0 after their Thursday night win.

Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional

Navegantes del Magallanes (3-5) 10, Aguilas del Zulia (4-4) 4 – Angel Reyes took over in right field for Yasiel Puig and gave the Navegantes de Magallanes a 2-for-3 night with a two-run homer and an RBI triple as the Sailors got their third win of the 16-game round robin. Wilfredo Tovar hit a solo homer in the bottom of the third for Magallanes, and Leandro Cedeño clubbed a two-run shot in the fifth for the Navegantes, who scored 10 runs on 15 hits in the rout.

Cardenales de Lara (5-2) 6, Bravos de Margarita (2-5) 2 – The Cardenales de Lara took the lead in the LVBP round robin behind another big night from Luisangel Acuna, who went 2-for-3 with five RBIs, hitting a two-run homer in the bottom of the first, a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth, and a sac fly in the eighth. Veteran starter Cesar Valdez threw five innings for Lara, allowing two runs on five hits, walking one and striking out four.

Friday’s Winter Ball Playoff Schedule
All times Eastern Standard Time

LIDOM 
Streaming Live on MLB.tv with a subscription
6:15 p.m. –  Gigantes del Cibao (2-14) at Leones del Escogido (11-5)
6:30 p.m. – Aguilas Cibaenas (8-7) at Toros del Este (9-6)

LBPRC
Games streamed live on the LBPRC’s YouTube page
6 p.m. – Cangrejeros de Santurce at Leones de Ponce – Game 4 – Santurce leads series 2-0

Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico
Streaming Live on MLB.tv with a subscription
9:30 p.m. – Tomateros de Culiacan at Algodoneros de Guasave – Game 5 – Culiacan leads series 3-1

Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional
Streaming on BeisbolPlay with a subscription
6 p.m. – Aguilas del Zulia (4-3) at Caribes de Anzoategui (5-3)
6 p.m. – Navegantes del Magallanes (2-5) at Bravos de Margarita (2-5)

Photo: The Tomateros de Culiacan became the first team to earn a berth in the 2026 Caribbean Series with a sweep of Guasave in the LAMP semifinals. (photo courtesy of LAMP)