MEXPAC PLAYOFF SCOREBOARD: Monday, 1/4/16

Mexicali now stands a win away from punching their ticket to the semis, Navojoa kept Mazatlan from going up 3-0 in their series while Los Mochis is ahead 2-1 in their set with Obregon.  The Aguilas beat the Jalisco Charros in Guadalajara, 4-3, Monday night, Navojoa shut out Mazatlan, 5-0, and Los Mochis snuck past Obregon, 2-1, on J.C. Linares' walkoff homer in the ninth.

Pitching continues to be the primary facet of the Mexican Pacific League's first round of playoff action after nine games, with all pitchers sharing a collective 3.04 ERA (Mexicali's staff has a 2.00 mark). Several top-flight starts were recorded Monday night, with Navojoa's Jose Oyervides (pictured) and Obregon's Arturo Lopez shining the brightest.

NAVOJOA 5-8-0, Mazatlan 1-4-0
W-Oyervides (1-0). L-Meza (0-1). T-2:48.  A-9,150.
Oyervides turned in the most dominant performance thus far in the MexPac's pitching-dominated first round, limiting Mazatlan to two singles over 6.1 frames and striking out 11 as the Mayos copped a 5-0 win over the Venados at Estadio Manuel "Ciclon" Echevarria in Navojoa.  Jose Amador's two-out single drove in Nate Tenbrink to give the Mayos a 1-0 first inning lead.  One inning later, a Tenbrink single to center brought in two more runs to give Oyervides a three-run cushion.  Navojoa's lead was 5-0 in the top of the ninth when Mazatlan finally plated a run as Albino Contreras came in on Olmo Rosario's 4-3 double play grounder to second baseman Carlos Orrantia, ending the game. 

Mexicali 4-6-0, JALISCO 3-7-0
W-Marco Duarte (1-0). L-Orlando Lara (0-1). T-2:39. A-10,143.
The Jalisco Charros put on a late rally to make things close, but the Mexicali Aguilas were able to hold on for a 4-3 win in Guadalajara Monday night.  Mexicali now leads the series, 3 game to 0. Marco Duarte posted a standout start for the Aguilas, breezing through seven shutout innings by scattering four hits with one walk, striking out seven.   Ramon Urias stroked the second pitch of the night for a homer in the top of the first inning for Mexicali.  The Eagles led 4-1 in the bottom of the ninth when Alex Liddi poled a two-run homer for Jalisco, but Jose Manuel Lopez struck out the last two batsmen to register the save.  Orlando Lara took the loss for the Charros.

LOS MOCHIS 1-7-1, Obregon 2-8-1
W-Patton (1-0). L-Sandoval (0-1). T-2:55. A-9,962.
In yet another LMP postseason pitching showcase, Obregon starter Arturo Lopez was rock-solid on the hill, going six strong innings and letting in one fourth-inning run on Antonio Lamas' RBI single while spacing out four hits and a walk.  However, it was a first-pitch walkoff home run by J.C. Linares in the bottom of the ninth off Jose Sandoval that gave the Caneros the win, wasting Lopez' effort.  Spencer Patton tossed the final two scoreless innings for Los Mochis to earn the win while Sandoval was tagged with the loss along with Linares' bomb.