Monday, October 12, 2009

CULIACAN TOMATEROS


The Tomateros finished with the worst record in the Mexican Pacific League last season at 26-42, and manager Nick Leyva doesn’t want a repeat performance this winter.


One weapon at Leyva’s disposal is first baseman Refugio Cervantes, who hit .296 with 10 homers for the Tomateros last year before batting .334 and cracking 20 homers in 90 games for Mexican League champion Saltillo this summer. Another weapon is outfielder Jesus Cota, a Cervantes teammate in Saltillo who homered in four straight games in the Liga Championship Series and belted three roundtrippers for Mexico against Taiwan in the Baseball World Cup.

The pitching staff is led by returnee Omar Espinoza, who went 7-4 for Culiacan last season with a 3.84 ERA. Mexican League Pitcher of the Year Andres Meza is back, but will need more than the 7 innings he pitched last winter. Jose Silva also brings back his 14 saves.

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