QUEVEDO QUIETLY QUELLS GUASAVE, 5-2, AS OBREGON WINS MEX PAC PENNANT

A four-run fourth inning for Obregon was more than enough support for Yaquis starter Marco Quevedo (pictured), who outfoxed Guasave for seven innings of one-run, four-hit pitching while barely breaking a sweat as Obregon defeated the Algodoneros, 5-2, Saturday night to clinch the Mexican Pacific League pennant with a trip as Mexican champions to the Caribbean Series next week in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

Iker Franco’s homer off Guasave starter Daniel Guerrero opened the bottom of the fourth to nudge Obregon ahead, 2-1. Barbaro Canizares later stroked an RBI single to chase Guerrero and make it a 3-1 game before Mario Valdez capped the Obregon fourth with a two-out, bases-loaded pinch single to give the Yaquis a 5-1 lead. Marshall McDougall hit his second homer of the night in the ninth, but it was in vain as the Yaquis clinched their fifth LMP pennant in the well-attended series. All seven games were sellouts with 76,000 fans clicking the turnstiles, 52,000 of them at four games in Obregon.

The Yaquis open the CS against the Dominican champion Este Toros Wednesday at 3PM Eastern. Puerto Rico’s Caguas Criollos will represent Puerto Rico against the Venezuelan champs in the nightcap.