Staff Reports
World Baseball Network
Marcelo Martinez struck out 11 and held the Algodoneros de Guasave to just two hits and allowed four baserunners in total over 7.0 innings of work as the Aguilas de Mexicali took game seven of their first round playoff series 2-0.
Alejandro Mejia’s two-out double in the top of the ninth sent Juan Carlos Gamboa and Antonia Castaneda home with the game’s only runs.
Jake Sanchez entered the game with two outs in the bottom of the eighth and got a four-out save for Mexicali, obtaining the final two outs by getting Raimel Rosario to ground into a 1-4-3 double play.
The Aguilas de Mexicali will face the Naranjeros de Hermosillo and the the Tomateros de Culiacan will face the Venados de Mazatlan in the second round of the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico playoffs, which begin Jan. 11.
Remaining LAMP Teams Draft Reinforcements – Following the completion of Tuesday’s game, the remaining four teams drafted two players each as reinforcements for the remainder of the playoffs.
The Venados de Mazatlan selected pitcher Luis Fernando Miranda and outfielder Julian Ornelas. The Tomateros de Culiacan selected pitchers Jeff Kinley and Alemao Hernandez. The Naranjeros de Hermosillo selected pitcher Zach Matson and infielder Bobby Bradley. The Aguilas de Mexicali selected pitchers Darel Torres and Ronald Bolanos.
Cardenales Blank Bravos Behind El Blanco’s Homer, Tigres Claw Leones – Hernan Perez hit a two-run homer in the top of the first, and six Lara pitchers held the Bravos de Margarita to just five hits and allowed three walks as the Cardenales shut out the Bravos to improve to 3-4.
Ildemaro Vargas went 1-for-4 with an RBI single in the second as part of a three-run inning.
The Bravos fell to 3-3 in the LVBP round robin and face the Tiburones de La Guaira Wednesday night at 6 p.m. EST. All LVBP games can be streamed via Beisbolplay.com with a paid subscription.
Elsewhere in the LVBP, the Tigres de Aragua topped the Leones del Caracas 7-2. Yermin Mercedes went 3-for-3 with an RBI single, a double, and a solo homer in the sixth, scoring two runs scored and driving in two more in the win. The Tigres improved to 3-4 with the win, and have Wednesday night off. The Leones fell to 2-4 in the round robin and face the Cardenales de Lara on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. EST.
Tigres del Licey Edge Leones del Escogido 3-1 – Veteran pitcher Cesar Valdez threw five innings, allowing five hits and one run, striking out three and walking one, and the Tigres del Licey got two runs in the top of the seventh to nip the Leones del Escogido 3-1.
An RBI double in the top of the seventh by Yadiel Hernandez scored Emilio Bonifacio, and the next batter, Miguel Andujar, drove in Hernandez with a single.
The Tigres del Licey face the Gigantes del Cibao Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. EST.
Gigantes del Cibao 10, Estrellas Orientales 4 – Six runs in the top of the third were more than enough for the Gigantes del Cibao to get past the first-place Estrellas Orientales Tuesday night.
Marcell Ozuna started the big inning for the Gigantes with a bases-loaded sac fly that scored Jose Siri. Carlos Franco followed Ozuna with a two-run double that scored Jeimer Candelario and Luis Garcia, and then Jordany Valdespin drove in Franco with a triple. Valdespin was awarded the plate on a balk called on Estrellas pitcher Jose Jose, and Joe Hudson punctuated the inning with a solo homer.
The two teams face off again Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. All LIDOM games are streamed live on MLB.tv with a paid subscription.