SARAPEROS BEAT PUEBLA IN FIVE GAMES FOR SECOND STRAIGHT LMB FLAG

The Saltillo Saraperos destroyed Puebla, 21-2, Monday night in Saltillo to put an exclamation point on their five-game conquest of the Pericos in the Mexican League Bicentennial Series for their second consecutive LMB pennant.

Former Milwaukee and Baltimore pitcher Jose Mercedes was masterful in winning the clinching game by tossing all nine innings for the Saraperos in a contest that the Pericos actually led 1-0 after the top of the first. Of Mercedes’ 120 pitches, 90 were strikes.

Saltillo started the series last week by winning the first two games on the road in come-from-behind fashion by scores of 6-4 and 4-3. After the series moved to Saltillo, Puebla scored eight runs in the first and went on to win Game Three, 8-5, but the Saraperos came back to shut the Pericos out, 5-0, on Sunday before closing the set and season with Monday’s mauling.

Refugio Cervantes highlighted the final game with a pair of homers for Saltillo to finish the postseason with nine longballs in 18 contests.