OBREGON KNOCKS OUT MEXICALI IN FIVE GAMES

It didn’t take long for Obregon to move into the semifinals of the Mexican Pacific League playoffs. The Yaquis split their first two games at home against Mexicali before taking three wins in a row on the road in the Eagles’ Nest to close out their series, four games to one.

Former big leaguer Dan Serafini was sharp for Mexicali in the opener, holding Obregon to two hits in eight innings as the Aguilas blanked the Yaquis, 6-0, on January 2. It was to be the only win for the borderites in the series as Obregon came back to outscore the league’s best-hitting team in the regular season by a 32-18 margin over the next four games to bounce the Aguilas from the playoffs.

After Flavio Romero drove in three runs in the Yaquis’ series-tying 9-5 win, Carlos Valencia hit a three-run homer in Game 3 to put the Yaquis ahead in the series, a five-run second inning in Game 4 keyed by homers from Victor Diaz and Iker Franco led to a 6-2 Obregon win, and Erubiel Durazo (pictured) conked a homer, scored three runs and drove in three to aid the Yaquis’ 14-9 clincher last Thursday.

By losing in five games, Mexicali is out as a contender for a wild card slot in the semis.