PUEBLA, OTANEZ SEE STREAKS END SUNDAY AGAINST CAMPECHE

Both the Puebla Pericos and first baseman Willis Otanez (pictured) saw a pair of impressive streaks come to an end Sunday afternoon in an 11-1 drubbing at home against the Campeche Piratas. With the loss, the Pericos’ 13-game winning streak was snapped. Puebla had defeated the Pirates, 6-0, Saturday night as starter Omar Espinoza tossed six shutout innings to run his record to 4-0 while Otanez stretched his hitting streak to 37 games (dating back to last season) by slapping a grounder past Campeche third baseman Cesar Osuna in the fourth inning.

However, both streaks were stopped Sunday with the Piratas’ resounding road win. Raul Gonzalez socked two homers and Jose Macias blasted a grand slam for Campeche as pitcher Ozzie Mendez turned in six shutout innings. Puebla scored their lone run in the eighth inning, but Macias’ four-run bomb in the top of the ninth served as an exclamation point for the Piratas. Even with the loss, Puebla’s 19-4 season record is best in the LMB. They’re three games ahead of the 16-7 Oaxaca Guerreros in the Zona Hidalgo standings.

Otanez was held hitless in the game, but his 37-game hitting streak is still the longest in modern Mexican League history, topping the old record of 36 set by Luis de los Santos (year unknown). However, the Liga has not yet officially recognized Otanez’ streak because it began with 13 games remaining in the 2009 schedule.