Winter League Playoffs: Algodoneros de Guasave, Aguilas de Mexicali On Verge of Upsets; Leones del Escogido 6-1 in LIDOM

Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico

Algodoneros de Guasave 5, Jaguares de Nayarit 4 (12 Innings) – In the bottom of the 12th, with runners on first and third and one out, Guasave’s Esteban Quiroz hit into a fielder’s choice at second. Nayarit second baseman Carlos Sepulveda flipped the ball to shortstop Ciro Norzagaray, but the relay to first to get Quiroz for the double play was late, and after a review, Quiroz was safe, and Samar Leyva’s run counted, ending the game and giving the eighth-seeded Algodoneros a 3-0 series lead. Leo Heras hit a two-run double for Guasave in the fourth, and Orlando Pina chipped in a two-run homer in the sixth.

Aguilas de Mexicali 2, Yaquis de Obregon 1 – A third-inning double by Cade Gotta scored Marco Jaime for a 1-0 Aguilas lead in the third, and Norberto Obeso’s single in the seventh got Moises Gutierrez home with the winning run as Mexicali took a 3-0 series lead. Victor Mendoza’s ground out to first got Sebastian Elizalde home with Obregon’s lone run in the eighth. The Aguilas’ bullpen allowed one unearned run on two hits and struck out three over 4 1/3 innings.

Caneros de Los Mochis 5, Tomateros de Culiacan 0 – Yasmany Tomas hit a solo homer in the second and drove in another run with a single in the third as Los Mochis took a 2-1 series lead on Culican. Caneros’ starter Yoanner Negrin threw six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out five, and four relievers combined to allow just one hit and four walks over the final three innings, and Isaac Rodriguez had an RBI single for the Caneros in the sixth. Los Mochis leads the series 2-1.

Naranjeros de Hermosillo 9, Charros de Jalisco 5 (14 Innings) – Andretty Cordero singled home Edson Garcia in the top of the 14th to give Hermosillo a 6-5 lead, and two batters later, Cesar Salazar hit a three-run homer, scoring Cordero and Harold Ramirez to put the game away. Isaac Paredes and Willie Calhoun each had an RBI double for the Naranjeros in the fifth, and starter Braulio Torres-Perez threw six innings, allowing two runs on four hits and fanning six for Hermosillo, which now leads the series two games to one.

LIDOM

Toros del Este 10 (5-2), Gigantes del Cibao (0-7) 6 – The Toros del Este improved to 5-2 in the round robin, clubbing three homers as they pinned yet another loss on the Gigantes Sunday night. Eloy Jimenez hit a three-run homer in the third, Sandy Alcantara hit a two-run homer in the sixth, and Bryan De La Cruz hit a solo homer in the seventh for the Toros, who also got five innings from starter Enny Romero, who allowed three runs on four hits and a walk, striking out three. With the loss, the Gigantes can finish no higher than second in the round robin.

Leones del Escogido 5, Aguilas Cibaenas 2 – The defending champs got another win closer to a return to the LIDOM championship series, pulling ahead on a double by Socrates Brito in the fifth that scored Erik Gonzalez, and getting insurance from a ground out later in the inning by Junior Lake that allowed Brito to score. Raimel Tapia added an RBI double in the eighth for Escogido, who got six innings of two-hit ball from Conner Greene, who allowed one run, struck out two, and walked three.

LBPRC

Cangrejeros de Santurce 6, Criollos de Caguas 3 – Jeremy Arocho’s eight-inning, bases-loaded triple plated three runs for Santurce, scoring Jack Lopez, Bryan Navarretto, and Andrew Velazquez giving them a 2-1 series lead. Navarretto’s solo homer in the fourth tied the game at two apiece, and Velazquez tied the game in the seventh, scoring on a double by Yohandy Morales.

Gigantes de Carolina 5, Leones de Ponce 3 – Carolina rallied from a three-run deficit, scoring four runs in the eighth, three coming on a Sabin Ceballos homer, to take a 2-1 series lead on Ponce. Jan Hernandez singled home Carolina’s first run, and the Gigantes bullpen held the Leones to just two hits and a walk over the final 5 2/3 innings.

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

LIDOM 
Streaming Live on MLB.tv with a subscription
3 p.m. – Toros del Este (5-2) at Leones del Escogido (5-1)
4:30 p.m. –  Aguilas Cibaenas (3-4) at Gigantes del Cibao (0-7)

LBPRC
No Games Scheduled

Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico
Streaming Live on MLB.tv with a subscription
8:30 p.m. – Naranjeros de Hermosillo at Charros de Jalisco – Game 4 – Hermosillo leads series 2-1
9:30 p.m. – Tomateros de Culiacan at Caneros de Los Mochis  – Game 4 – Los Mochis leads series 2-1
9:30 p.m. – Yaquis de Obregon at Aguilas de Mexicali – Game 4 – Mexicali leads series 2-0
10:30  p.m. – Jaguares de Nayarit at Algodoneros de Guasave – Game 4 – Guasave leads series 3-0

Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional
Streaming on BeisbolPlay with a subscription
Note – The LVBP’s round robin playoff will resume on Wednesday, Jan. 7. 
PPD – Caribes de Anzoategui at Navegantes de Magallanes
PPD – Cardenales de Lara at Bravos de Margarita

Photo: The eighth-seeded Algodoneros de Guasave are a win away from knocking off the top-seeded Jagaures de Nayarit in the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico playoffs. (Photo courtesy of LAMP)