It took 13 innings, but Benji Gil and the Charros de Jalisco are moving on to the Caribbean Series, defeating the Tomateros de Culiacan four games to two in the LAMP championship series.
Billy Hamilton grounded back to the mound with runners on first and third with one out, allowing Donovan Casey to head home with the go-ahead run in the top of the 13th, and then a bases loaded sac fly by Mateo Gil got Luis Carlos Martinez and Hamilton home for a 9-6 Charros lead.
Casey went 5-for-6 with two runs scored, two RBIs, and a double for the Charros, who won their third Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico title and a trip to the Caribbean Series.
After falling behind 3-0 early, the Charros tied the game on Mateo Gil’s two-out solo homer to left in the top of the sixth. Two batters later, Jack Mayfield’s RBI double scored Julian Ornelas to put Jalisco up 4-3, and then Casey singled home Mayfield for a two-run cushion.
Efren Navarro’s three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth put Culican ahead 6-5, but Casey tied the game in the eighth, singling home Mayfield again to make it 6-6.
The game remained scoreless until the top of the 13th, when the Charros plated three and held on to win the title.
Over the final 7 2/3 innings, the Jalisco bullpen allowed three hits, no runs, walked three and struck out five to preserve the lead.
The Charros will open the Caribbean Series on Friday night at 11 p.m. EST against the Indios de Mayaguez, who won the championship of Puerto Rico’s Liga Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente.
2025 Caribbean Series Schedule
All times Eastern Standard Time
All games broadcast in English on MLB Network
January 31
4:30 p.m. – Venezuela (Cardenales de Lara) vs. Dominican Republic (Leones del Escogido)
11 p.m. – Mexico (Charros de Jalisco) vs. Puerto Rico (Indios de Mayaguez)
February 1
3:50 p.m. – Dominican Republic vs. Japan (Japan Breeze)
8:50 p.m. – Mexico vs. Venezuela
February 2
3:50 p.m. – Japan vs. Puerto Rico
8:50 p.m. – Dominican Republic vs. Mexico
February 3
3 p.m. – Venezuela vs. Puerto Rico
8 p.m. – Mexico vs. Japan
February 4
5 p.m. – Puerto Rico vs. Dominican Republic
10 p.m. – Japan vs. Venezuela
February 5
5 p.m. – Semifinal 1 – Second Place vs. Third Place
10 p.m. – Semifinal 2 – First Place vs. Fourth Place
February 6
10 p.m. – Third Place Game
February 7
10 p.m. – Championship Game
