VENADOS STUMBLE AS NARANJEROS TAKE EARLY LMP SECOND HALF LEAD

First half champion Mazatlan has had their troubles in the early going of the Mexican Pacific League’s second half, but the Hermosillo Naranjeros are holding off resurgent Culiacan at the top of the Mex Pac standings.

Hermosillo has won 12 of their first 18 games to take a narrow half-game lead over the 11-6 Tomateros, who have turned things around for new manager Francisco Estrada. Navojoa is in third place at 10-8 despite winning just two games last week, while Obregon rounds out the first division at 8-9.

Los Mochis and Guasave are tied for fifth place at 8-10, while Mazatlan and Mexicali are tied for last with 7-11 records. The Venados, who cruised to the first-half title, have already lost more games in the second half than they did while going 25-10 over their first 35 games to take first place by four games. Mazatlan has won three of their last four games, however.