CULIACAN BEATS MAZATLAN, ONE WIN AWAY FROM SWEEP

The Culiacan Tomateros are taking care of business in their Mexican Pacific League first round playoff series with Mazatlan. Culiacan topped the Venados, 4-1, Tuesday night to take a 3 games to 1 lead in their best-of-seven set. Jorge Vazquez (pictured)went 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs for the Tomateros and Francisco Campos turned in five good innings on the mound, letting in one run and striking out three hitters.

Obregon took a 2 to 1 lead in their series with Hermosillo after the Yaquis copped a 2-0 squeaker at home in Estadio Tomas Oroz Gaytan. The Yaquis’ Iker Franco broke open a scoreless tie with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth and pinch-hitter Albino Contreras sliced a two-out RBI single in the sixth. Four Obregon pitchers combined on the shutout as starter Rolando Valdez got the win with six strong innings.

Leo Heras was 4-for-4 with a homer, two runs and three RBIs to pace Guasave’s 10-7 win over Los Mochis. LMP batting champ Eduardo Arredondo had three hits and three runs for the Algodoneros, who are now up 3 to 2 in their set with Mochis. Cottoneers reliever Sergio Mora got the win in relief with 3.1 hitless innings. Caneros starter Dan Serafini was rocked for six runs on five hits and three walks in 1.2 frames.

Mazatlan, Obregon and Mochis all host fourth games of their respective series Wednesday night.