MEXICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS: July 21, 2010

DIABLOS REBOUND FOR 12-4 WIN, SERIES WITH SALTILLO TIED 1-1
One day after dropping the first game of their first round series with Saltillo, the Mexico City Diablos Rojos built a 12-0 lead and never looked back in a 12-4 triumph over defending LMB champion Saltillo Wednesday night before 5,268 in Mexico City’s Foro Sol to tie the set at one game apiece.

First baseman Japhet Amador (pictured) stroked a grand slam homer in the bottom of the first for the Diablos, who went on to score at least one run in each of the game’s first five innings. Roberto Saucedo and Ivan Terrazas added two-run bombs in the second and fifth innings, respectively, as Mexico City madder short work of Saraperos starter Alejandro Garrido and reliever Francisco Felix, who each let in six runs in two innings of labor on the mound. Red Devils starter Esteban Yan was scuffed up a bit, letting in four runs on ten hits in seven frames, but pitched well enough for the win.

Jose Rodriguez was 3-for-5 while Noe Munoz crashed a two-run homer off Yan for Saltillo, who will host Game Three of the series Friday night at Parque Francisco I. Madero.


SULTANES TOP CHIHUAHUA, 7-3, TAKE 2-0 SERIES LEAD
Home field advantage hasn’t amounted to much for the Chihuahua Dorados, who dropped their second straight playoff contest to the Monterrey Sultanes at Estadio Chihuahua Wednesday night, 5-3.

Monterrey scored all five runs in the top of the first inning as Chihuahua starter Angel Castro was yanked after allowing all five runs on four hits and two walks while collecting just one out. Humberto Cota’s ground-rule double to left-center field brought in two runs gave support to starter Jonathan Castellanos. A native of Monterrey, Castellanos (who has battled injuries all season) let in just one run on three hits over six innings for the win. Mendy Lopez led the Monterrey offense by going 3-for-5 with a run and two RBIs. Castro absorbed the loss for the Dorados, who got a standout relief performance from Angel Araiza, a 20-year-old from Guanajuato who pitched 7.2 scoreless innings.

The series shifts to Monterrey Friday night for Game Three.


PUEBLA POUNDS YUCATAN, 12-6, COP FIRST GAME OF LMB SOUTH SEMI SERIES
Cesar Tapia’s two-run double was the key blow in a four-run first inning as Puebla bashed out an 12-6 victory over Yucatan Wednesday night before 10,155 fans in Puebla, taking a 1-0 lead in their best-of-7 LMB South semifinal series after Tuesday’s scheduled opener was rained out.

Yucatan starter Wilton Chavez got himself in trouble early by walking three batters and allowing a single before Tapia doubled to left field, bringing in Ricardo Serrano and Omar De La Torre to make the score 3-0. One more Pericos run crossed the plate to put Chavez and the Leones into a 4-0 hole they never dug themselves out of, although they did score five runs in the ninth to close the gap somewhat.

The Parrots racked up 16 hits off nine Leones hurlers in support of starting pitcher Andres Meza, who tossed six solid innings of one-run ball with five strikeouts. Tapia went 3-for-4 with four RBIs for Puebla while Rene Reyes had three hits and scored three runs for the winners.
The Leones and Pericos meet again Thursday night at Puebla’s Estadio Hermanos Serdan.


GUERREROS STAGE HUGE RALLY TO NIP TIGRES, 7-6, IN SERIES OPENER
Trailing 6-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Oaxaca Guerreros rallied for five runs and went on to hold off the Quintana Roo Tigres, 7-6, to win their playoff series opener at home.

The Tigres gave star pitcher Bobby Cramer a 6-2 lead as Cramer went six strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits. However, Oaxaca touched up three Tigres relievers for five runs on four hits and a pair of walks in the seventh as eight Guerreros came to the plate. A trio of relievers nailed down the win for Oaxaca as Yoel Hernandez struck out Jaime Trejo to end the game. Erick Rodriguez was 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs for Oaxaca, while Albino Contreras homered for Quintana Roo.

The two teams meet again at Estadio Eduardo Vasconcelos in Oaxaca for Game Two Thursday.