MEXICALI OUTLASTS LOS MOCHIS FOR LMP FIRST HALF CROWN

The Mexicali Aguilas have won the Mexican Pacific League’s first-half title (and the 8 playoff points that go with it) by one game over the Los Mochis Caneros.  The Aguilas clinched last Wednesday with a 9-0 pasting of Culiacan in front of 16,361 fans at The Nest as Efren Delgado and Juan Juan Omar Espinoza combined on a seven-hit shutout while SS Ramon Urias (right) went 3-for-3 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs against the Tomateros.
                
With the win, the Aguilas finished the half at 22-13, one game ahead of the 21-14 Caneros, who lost their last first-half game to cellar-dwelling Hermosillo, 2-1, Thursday in a game that took nearly 4 hours to complete with a combined 12 pitchers taking the mound.  Los Mochis picked up 7 points for finishing one game ahead of 20-15 Mazatlan, who garnered six points for finishing third.  Jalisco and Obregon tied for fourth at 18-17, with the Charros getting 5 points because they beat the Yaquis (4.5 points) twice in a three-game October series.  The two teams will square off six times in the second half.  Navojoa (17-18) gained 4 points for finishing sixth, Culiacan’s 13-22 record was worth 3.5 points and last-place Hermosillo got three points for going 11-24, proving that no half is a total waste.

The LMP playoff system seeds teams according to their accrued points over two halves, with the top six entering the January postseason.  The three first-round winners advance to the semifinals, joined by a wildcard team that wins the most first-round games among the three losing sides.  History indicates one should never discount the so-called “lucky loser,” as some have gone on to win the MexPac pennant and a berth in the Caribbean Series.