YAQUIS CLOSE OUT CANEROS; GUASAVE AND CULIACAN TIED AT 2-2

The Obregon Yaquis completed a four-game sweep of Los Mochis Saturday to reach the Mexican Pacific League championship series, but they’ll have to wait to see who they’ll be playing.

Obregon scored four runs in a miraculous ninth-inning comeback to beat the Caneros, 6-5, in Mochis to punch their ticket to the finals. With the Caneros leading 5-2, Mexican League homer champion Victor Diaz led off the ninth by launching a seatbuster to left field off Mochis reliever Francisco Rodriguez to make it a two-run game. Three batters later, Carlos Valencia swatted a three-run bomb (also to left) to give the Yaquis the lead, then Luis Ayala retired the Caneros in order for his third save of the series.

Meanwhile, Guasave was leading, 3-2, in the top of the fourth when Culiacan’s Jorge Vazquez and Emmanuel Valdez hit solo homers off Algodoneros starter Salvador Robles to go on top. The Cottoneers went back in front, 6-5, in the sixth on a two-run shot by Dutch WBC and Olympics veteran Yurendell de Caster (pictured). It was then up to Guasave relievers Sergio Mora, Adrian Ramirez, Nick Bierbrodt and Alan Guerrero to hold the Tomateros scoreless the rest of the way for the Game Four series-tying win.

The Tomateros and Cottoneers will battle it out in Game Five Sunday in Guasave.