DIABLOS CLOBBER AGUILAS, 20-9; TAKE 2 OF 3 IN SERIES

Number nine batter Gabriel Gutierrez (pictured) went 4-for-5 and scored five times as the Mexico City Diablos Rojos pounded the Veracruz Aguilas, 20-9, Thursday as 5,080 fans looked on at Foro Sol. The win gave Mexico City a 2-games-to-1 series win over Veracruz in a battle between two teams that have been at or near the top of their respective divisions all season.

The Aguilas took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first as two runs scored when Diablos center fielder made two errors on the same ball hit by Jose Orozco, who then scored from third on a Manuel Bobadilla single. Mexico City eventually gained a 4-3 lead before Veracruz scored twice in the fourth to go back on top. From that point, however, the Red Devils notched 16 runs between the fourth and eighth frames to essentially salt the game away as the Mexico City offense (which features eight .300 hitters in the lineup) wore down seven Veracruz pitchers. One night earlier, the Eagles snapped a nine-game Diablos win streak with a 13-5 win over the hosts as Jose Guzman belted his Liga-leading 27th homer.

Meanwhile, everyone's wondering what’s wrong with the Saltillo Saraperos. The two-time defending champions got off to a slow enough start to the season, but have been absolutely awful the past month, going 6-23 between May 10 and June 7 before winning home games Wednesday and Thursday against lowly Minatitlan. Heading into the weekend, the Saraperos have a 28-40 record, 14 games behind first-place Reynosa and four games ahead of last-place Laguna. Saltillo pitching (never a strong point even during pennant-winning seasons) is now showing a 6.26 ERA.