CULIACAN, HERMOSILLO BATTLING FOR 2nd HALF MEX PAC CROWN

The Culiacan Tomateros and Hermosillo Naranjeros are just a half-game apart on top of the Mexican Pacific League’s second half standings with just nine games left on the schedule.
Culiacan leads the Mex Pac with a 15-8 record, just ahead of 15-9 Hermosillo. Obregon is third at 12-11, Navojoa is 12-12 and holds fourth, Guasave is in fifth with an 11-13 mark, while Mexicali, Los Mochis and first half champion Mazatlan are tied for sixth with 10-14 records.

Sandy Madera (pictured) continues to top the LMP with a .399 batting average. Jon Weber, who joined Mazatlan 20 games into the season, is right behind at .398. Hermosillo’s Luis Alfonso Garcia has all but locked up the homer title with 20 longballs, six head of Madera and Obregon’s Carlos Valencia. Valencia leads in RBIs with 55, while Mexicali’s Brad Snyder is next with 47.

Among pitchers, Mazatlan’s Pablo Ortega continues his lights-out season for the Venados with an 8-2 record and 2.09 ERA, leading the Mex Pac in both wins and ERA. Luis Mendoza leads the circuit by a wide margin in strikeouts with 70 Ks in 78 innings, while Mazatlan closer Gabe de Hoyos is tops in saves with 12 despite having only one save for the Venados since November 17.