Trevor Bauer threw six shutout innings for the Diablos Rojos del Mexico, and the Diablos extended their shutout streak to 21 innings with a 2-0 win in game three of the Serie del Rey. (Photo courtesy of the Diablos Rojos del Mexico)
Pitching pushed the Diablos Rojos del Mexico past the Sultanes de Monterrey in game three of the Serie del Rey, putting the Reds one game away from their first Liga Mexicana de Beisbol championship in a decade.
The Diablos pitchers shut out the Sultanes for the second consecutive game, taking a 2-0 win in game three, which concluded Sunday evening after the contest was suspended after 6 1/2 innings Saturday.
The Diablos Rojos led the game 1-0, having scored the game’s only run in the top of the fifth when the contest was suspended in the middle of the seventh inning due to rain.
With runners at the corners and one out, Diosbel Arias grounded back to the mound, and when Monterrey pitcher Steven Tarpley threw to second base to try for the double play, Juan Carlos Gamboa scored from third when Monterrey couldn’t complete the twin killing.
Starter Trevor Bauer allowed four hits over six scoreless innings for Mexico City, striking out four and walking none.
For Monterrey, Tarpley allowed one run on four hits with eight strikeouts over seven full innings.
When the game resumed Sunday afternoon, Justin Courtney took the mound for Mexico City and retired the side in order. Courtney, Edwin Fiero, and Tomohiro Anraku combined to allow one hit over the final three innings of the game out of the bullpen for the Diablos, who have now gone 21 innings without allowing a run.
Jose Pirela’s sixth home run of the playoffs, a two-out shot in the top of the ninth, added the second run for the Diablos.
With a 3-0 lead in the series, the Diablos Rojos have the opportunity to sweep the Serie del Rey, a feat that hasn’t occurred since 2014, the last time the Diablos Rojos won the LMB title, when they swept the Pericos de Puebla for the organization’s 16th championship.
Game four is scheduled to start at 9:30 p.m. EDT, with Jared Lakind starting for Monterrey. Mexico City manager Lorenzo Bundy has yet to name a starter.
NOTEBOOK: With Trevor Bauer having started game three of the series on Saturday, throwing six shutout innings, it’s possible but unlikely that he would be available out of the bullpen late in game four. Bauer made his only relief appearance of 2024 in game seven of the Serie de Campeonato against the Guerreros de Oaxaca, throwing four shutout innings to cap the Diablos’ comeback from a three-game deficit in the series. … Pirela’s sixth homer ties him for the lead in the LMB playoffs with Oaxaca’s Kyle Martin. … Bauer’s 1.67 ERA in the playoffs is the lowest by any pitcher who has thrown at least 20 innings.
