GALLARDO TOPS LIST OF FIVE MEXICANS IN MLB PLAYOFFS

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo (pictured) left no doubt among baseball fans Saturday that Mexico is being represented in the MLB playoffs. Gallardo, who was born in La Piedad, Michoacan in 1986, tossed eight innings of four-hit ball for the Brewers and earned the 4-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, striking out nine batters and walking one in the opening game of their National League Division Series.

The right-handed Gallardo, who was 17-10 with a 3.52 ERA in the regular season, is one of five Mexican-born players performing in the MLB postseason all pitchers. Among the other four is a Milwaukee teammate, reliever Marco Estrada. Estrada, a Sonora native who attended Long Beach State, was 4-8 with a 4.08 ERA in 92 innings for the Brewers, striking out 88 hitters.

Two other Mexicano pitchers work for the St. Louis Cardinals: Starter Jaime Garcia and closer Fernando Salas. Garcia (from Reynosa) went 13-7 with a 3.56 ERA this year after finishing third in balloting for the National League Rookie of the Year in 2010, while Salas (a Sonoran) was 5-6 with 24 saves and a 2.28 ERA in 75 innings for the Cards.

The lone American Leaguer from South of the Border is Yankees pitcher Luis Ayala, a seven-year MLB veteran making New York the sixth big league city he’s hurled in since 2003. After not pitching in the majors last year, the Los Mochis-born Ayala went 2-2 with a 2.09 ERA in 52 appearances for the Yanks in 2011.

OLD RIVALS TIGRES, DIABLOS TO MEET IN LIGA TITLE SERIES

In what must be a dream matchup among longtime Mexican baseball fans, the Mexico City Diablos Rojos will face the Quintana Roo Tigres in the Mexican League championship series. The two teams shared ballparks in the nation’s capital for over four decades, and have remained fierce rivals even after the Tigres left Mexico City in 2002. The Diablos have won 15 Liga pennants while the Tigres was copped nine flags since 1955.

Monterrey forced Mexico City into a seventh game in their LMB North final series before the Diablos prevailed, 4-1, on Wednesday. Miguel Duarte and Jean Machi combined to scatter seven Sultanes hits with 12 strikeouts while Luis Alfonso Cruz went 4-for-4 with a run and RBI and Carlos Valencia socked a solo homer. Monterrey overcame a 3 to 1 series deficit by winning 10-4 last Sunday as Edgar Quintero doubled, singled twice and drove in three runs, then drubbed the Diablos, 17-6, Tuesday night with Chris Roberson going 4-for-5 with a triple, homer and three ribbies.

The Tigres punched their ticket to the LMB finals by eliminating Veracruz, 4-2, in Game 6 Wednesday in Cancun. 5’7” pitcher Jose Ramirez combined with two relievers to limit the Aguilas to seven hits for his third postseason win while Albino Contreras was one single shy of hitting for the cycle, scoring twice and whacking a two-run homer. Quintana Roo was trailing 2 games to 1 before reeling off wins on three consecutive nights: a 3-1 triumph Monday behind Enrique Lechuga’s six innings of six-hit ball followed by a 4-3 thriller in 11 innings Tuesday when Doug Clark scored from second on a Jaime Trejo single and a throwing error by Aguilas left fielder Jose Orozco and Sandy Nin pitched three perfect innings in relief for the win.

The title series opens Saturday in Cancun. The Tigres have home field advantage because the Southern Zone won the All-Star Game at Saltillo in May.

AGUILAS EVEN SOUTH FINALS ON PAEZ’ RBI DOUBLE

Hector Paez (pictured) drove in Victor Diaz from first with a two-out, pinch-hit double to right field in the top of the ninth inning to give the Veracruz Aguilas a 7-6 lead over Quintana Roo that reliever Jailen Peguero preserved in the bottom of the frame to even the Mexican League Southern Zone Final series at a game apiece Friday night in Cancun.

The Aguilas had a 6-3 lead over the Tigres until Quintana Roo tied the game up in the bottom of the seventh on consecutive RBI hits from Doug Clark, Willie Romero and Albino Contreras. Peguero, who came in after Clark’s double, then retired Kevin Flores and Jaime Trejo to end the seventh and struggled through a scoreless eighth before Paez’ heroics in the ninth stanza. Game 3 of the series is set for Sunday in Veracruz.

A crowd of 23,537 attended Friday’s LMB North Final Game 3 in Monterrey as the Sultanes defeated Mexico City, 7-4, as Edgar Quintero went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs for the winning team. Sergio Perez, who hit just three regular season homers, went yard twice for Monterrey to back pitchers Dan Serafini and Juan Delgadillo.

The Diablos came back one night later and outlasted the Sultanes, 5-4, as Mexico City starter Marco Quevedo gave up just one hit in 5.2 shutout innings and Mario Valenzuela doubled in two runs in the fifth. The Diablos were up 5-1 in the ninth before Monterrey scored three runs off Mexico City closer Jean Machi to make it a one-run contest, but Machi got Sandy Madera to hit into a fielder’s choice to end the contest. The Diablos now lead the series, 3 games to 1.

ORTEGA SPARKLES AS TIGRES WIN LMB SOUTH FINAL OPENER

Another day, another dandy outing for Pablo Ortega. The Quintana Roo Tigres veteran pitcher, who authored a no-hitter in his last regular season start, tossed six innings of three-hit shutout ball Thursday night as the Tigres blanked the Veracruz Aguilas, 10-0, in Cancun in Game 1 of the Mexican League Southern Zone Finals.

Even though he only allowed two walks, Ortega did have to work a bit for his second playoff win in three decisions, delivering 95 pitches before making way for reliever Enrique Gomez in the seventh inning. The Tigres got all the runs they’d need in the third when Carlos Gastelum singled in Jaime Trejo and Carlos Sievers plated Gastelum on a line-drive double to center, but a Willie Romero (pictured) fifth inning grand slam made it an 8-0 Quintana Roo lead thar effectively salted the game away.

Meanwhile in the LMB North Finals, Mexico City took a 2 games to 0 lead over Monterrey with a 10-3 whacking of the Sultanes Wednesday night at Foro Sol. Luis Alfonso Cruz belted his fourth postseason homer with a three-run shot, while Luis Terrero added a three-run bomb of his own and Ivan Terrazas stroked a two-run longball in support of starter Nerio Rodriguez, who let in one run on four hits in five innings.

On Friday, Veracruz will visit Cancun and Mexico City plays in Monterrey. The Sultanes host the Diablos Saturday.

DIABLOS TOP SULTANES ON GIL SINGLE IN 11TH

If there’s a “cover curse” on Baseball Mexico covers like there supposedly is on Sports Illustrated, nobody’s told Geronimo Gil.

The Mexico City Diablos Rojos veteran, who graces the front page of the BBM Mexican League 2011 Season Guide, delivered a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 11th inning to hand the Red Devils a 6-5 win over Monterrey in Game 1 of the LMB North final Tuesday at Foro Sol.

Mexico City was actually being handed a 5-0 shutout in the bottom of the ninth when skipper Mako Oliveras sent in Oscar Robles, Mario Valdez and Mario Valenzuela consecutively as pinch-hitters. Although Robles struck out, Valdez and Valenzuela both walked (with Ivan Terrazas scoring on a Ricardo Rincon wild pitch) to set up Luis Alfonso Cruz’ two-run single, a Luis Terrero RBI single and a game-tying Gil sacrifice fly that plated Cruz and sent the contest into extra frames.

In the LMB South semifinals, Campeche whacked Veracruz, 6-2, Monday night as Victor Diaz and Cesar Suarez hit solo homers for the Aguilas but Veracruz could muster only four more hits as the Piratas forced a Game 7. That one went Veracruz’ way by a 6-3 count, as Diaz and Suarez each homered for the second night in a row to put the Aguilas in the LMB South final against Quintana Roo. The Tigres eliminated Oaxaca in six games, including a 9-1 clincher in Cancun Sunday.

LMB NORTHERN ZONE FINALISTS SET

The Mexican League Northern Zone finalists have been determined. Mario Valdez (pictured) swatted a walkoff two-run homer to give Mexico City a 7-5 victory over Puebla Saturday, handing the Diablos a 4 games to 2 win in their series. Mexico City will face Monterrey, who dispatched Reynosa, 8-4, in Game Six on Saturday thanks to a four-run ninth keyed by Chris Roberson’s two-run single.

In the LMB South, Ruben Rivera’s grand slam helped Campeche take a 9-5 win at Veracruz Saturday after Hector Hernandez’ RBI single in the ninth gave the Aguilas a 3-2 win Friday. The Piratas lead 3 games to 2 going into Monday’s game in Campeche. Oaxaca stayed alive with a 2-1 win over Quintana Roo Friday as Sergio Gastelum homered. The Tigres are up 3 to 2 as the teams meet today in Cancun.

GUTIERREZ HITS 3-RUN HOMER AS REYNOSA STAYS ALIVE

The Reynosa Broncos averted a potential sweep in their first round series by scoring seven third-inning runs en route to a 10-8 road win in Monterrey Tuesday night. Marshall McDougall’s two-run double was followed by a Jesse Gutierrez (pictured) three-run homer two batters later as the Broncos pulled to within 2 games to 1 of the Sultanes, who host Game 4 tonight.

Mexico City took a 2-games-to-1 lead over Puebla by posting four runs in the top of the first (with Luis Alfonso Cruz cracking a two-run homer) and backing up a solid start from Nerio Rodriguez in Tuesday’s 4-1 win in Puebla. Rodriguez tossed seven innings of four-hit, one-run ball against the Pericos as the Diablos took a 2-to-1 series lead.

Veracruz and Campeche finally got the first games of their series in. The Aguilas opened with a 10-4 victory Monday night in Campeche as Jorge Guzman and Victor Diaz cracked two of four homers on the night for Veracruz to support Joel Vargas for the win. On Tuesday, Enrique Quintanilla hurled four scoreless innings in relief to combine with six other Veracruz pitchers on a seven-hitter in a 4-2 Aguilas win. The series moves to Veracruz for the next three scheduled games.

Meanwhile, Game 3 of the Quintana Roo-Oaxaca series was postponed by rain Tuesday night. They’ll try again Wednesday night with the Tigres holding a 2-games-to-0 lead in the set.

CLARK HOMERS IN TWO GAMES AS TIGRES TAKE 2-0 LEAD OVER GUERREROS

Veteran outfielder Doug Clark homered in two games while pitchers Pablo Ortega and Jose Ramirez were sharp as the Quintana Roo Tigres took wins in both contests at home in Cancun.

Clark socked a three-run homer and Carlos Gastelum belted a solo shot Saturday in Quintana Roo’s 8-3 triumph over Oaxaca as Ortega scattered four hits and one run in six innings for the win. Clark and Albino Contreras rapped homers off Guerreros starter Sergio Valenzuela in Sunday’s 4-2 Tigres win behind the 5’7” Ramirez.

Puebla and Mexico City split two games at Foro Sol. The Pericos clobbered the Diablos, 16-9, Saturday as Luis Suarez had four hits for Puebla and Mexico City starter Roberto Ramirez gave up nine runs in 2.2 innings. The Red Devils took a 9-2 win Sunday with Luis Terrero’s two-run homer highlighted a four-run Diablos second inning.

Sandy Madera’s three-run homer in the seventh was a key blow in Monterrey’s 6-2 win in Reynosa Saturday night as Broncos starter Marco Tovar was touched for six runs in seven innings, while Chris Roberson and Sergio Perez each had four hits in the Sultanes’ 9-2 victory Sunday as Francisley Bueno tossed seven frames of one-run ball for Monterrey’s second win.

While the other three series all got their first two games in, the Veracruz-Campeche first round was washed out both nights in Campeche. They’ll try to get a game in Monday night while everyone else is taking the day off to travel to the lower seed cities.

2011 Mexican League First Round Playoff Previews

NORTHERN ZONE SEMIFINAL: Mexico City vs. Puebla
The Diablos finished the regular season with the best record in the Mexican League and as a team batted .334, hit 192 homers and averaged over seven runs per game while Puebla hit .301 with less than half as many homers (and stole a Liga-low 34 bases). Based on that, Mexico City seems the clear favorite here except for one little detail: Pitching.

Although the Diablos have one of the best pitchers in the Liga in Roberto Ramirez (10-3/3.59) while Marco Duarte (12-4/4.94) tied for the LMB lead in wins, Mexico City still showed a 5.35 ERA to Puebla’s 4.89 mound mark. Further, the Parrots have a solid 1-2-3 top of the rotation in Andres Meza (11-5/3.14), Lorenzo Barcelo (10-7) and Mauricio Lara (10-5) that rank among the best starting threesome in the league. Puebla closer Luis Ramirez has had a good year 16 saves and a 3.54 ERA, but Diablos short man Jean Machi (15 saves, 2.30 ERA) hasn’t given up an earned run in over a month.

Still, the idea in baseball is to outscore your opponent and few do it better than Mexico City. Manager Mako Oliveras can fill out a lineup card with eight .300 hitters, including likely MVP OF Luis Terrero (.390/38/110), 1B Japhet Amador (.376/25/84), OF Mario Valenzuela (.374/21/58) and OF Leo Heras (.342/18/60). The Diablos addressed a hole on the left side of their infield by bringing in SS Luis Alfonso Cruz (.406 in 16 games) and vet 3B Oscar Robles (.250 in 3 games).

Pitching can win for you, but Puebla’s probably isn’t deep enough to win this series.


NORTHERN ZONE SEMIFINAL: Reynosa vs. Monterrey
Reynosa was one of the surprise teams of the Mexican League this year, finishing second in the LMB North with a 57-47 record that was the third-best in the circuit. Broncos manager Homar Rojas put together a good everyday lineup that included 2010 Liga batting champ DH Willis Otanez (.341/22/82), who came over from Puebla in the offseason. Otanez is probably the biggest star on a team that features solid but mostly unspectacular players like OF Eduardo Arredondo (.346/32 steals), 1B Jesse Gutierrez (.331/27/87), 3B Marshall McDougall (.327/15/79) and OF Yurendell de Caster (.338/6/47).

The problem with the Broncos is pitching. Rojas does have the underrated Marco Tovar (12-4/3.11) as his stopper, but this year’s Liga ERA champion has little help in the rotation as no other starter had an ERA better than 5.70.

On the other hand, Monterrey’s batting and pitching may be better than Reynosa’s despite finishing behind the Broncos in the standings. Granted, the Sultanes lost OF Karim Garcia and 1B Luis Alfonso Garcia to Asian teams during the season, but they still have a good lineup with DH Edgar Quintero (.357/32/78), OF Chris Roberson (.337/96 runs/22 steals) and mid-season pickup 1B Sandy Madera (.325/19/70). These guys can put runs on the board.

Monterrey’s pitching is decent enough, with veteran Walter Silva (10-4/3.51), Dan Serafini (7-5/4.88) and Francisley Bueno (7-5/4.15) topping a good rotation to complement closer Oscar Villareal (18 saves/2.80).

Although Reynosa won the first 10 of 12 games between these two teams during the regular season, the Sultanes could surprise.


SOUTHERN ZONE SEMIFINAL: Quintana Roo vs. Oaxaca
Both the Tigres and Guerreros lost six of their last ten games to end the regular season, but Oaxaca comes into the postseason on a five-game losing streak and they’ll be facing a team that pitched its way to first place in the standings.

Quintana Roo is not a team that’ll pound its way to a win. Only OFs Sergio Contreras (.347/13/57) and Doug Clark (.315/21/58) hit over .300 while C Iker Franco (.276/23/74) led the team in homers and RBIs with relatively modest totals. DH Carlos Sievers (.266/16/65) is the only other power threat besides Clark and Franco, but you won’t see a lot of double-digit scores with the Cancun club. What you will see with manager Matias Carrillo’s Tigres is an intelligent team that doesn’t beat itself and features a deep pitching staff with vets like Pablo Ortega (10-3/3.29), Francisco Cordoba (7-9) and Jose Ramirez (7-4/3.60) in the rotation along with fireman Sandy Nin (8-4/2.80/24 saves) coming out of the bullpen.

Oaxaca, on the other hand, has some players who can hit for average, including Liga batting champion 1B Barbaro Canizares (.396/20/76) and liner-hitting DH Kevin Barker (.358/12/79), but little power beyond those two. The Guerreros also have All-Stars in C Erick Rodriguez (.305/4/44) and 3B Sergio Gastelum (.288/4/41) and they’re strong defensively, but Oaxaca’s pitching is mediocre. Sergio Valenzuela (8-6/4.25) tops a so-so rotation and there’s been no closer since the Guerreros released Francisco.

The two teams split ten games this year, but it’s hard not to go with the Tigres here.


SOUTHERN ZONE SEMIFINAL: Campeche vs. Veracruz
This has the potential to be the most entertaining series among the four divisional semis. Between Veracruz OFs Jorge Guzman (.290/39/97) and Victor Diaz (.253/34/89) plus Campeche OF Ruben Rivera (.322/31/90), three of the top five home run hitters in the Liga this year will be on hand.

Campeche also has good hitters like OF Luis Matos (.331/8/32 with 15 steals), 1B Jolbert Cabrera (.300/19/74) and DH Javier Robles (.296/16/73), but the PIratas have had good pitching from starters Francisco Campos (12-5/3.42), Alejandro Armenta (11-4/3.80) Carlos Elizalde (8-2/4.03) and Miguel Ruiz ((5-6/3.36) in perhaps the Liga’s deepest rotation, and Hung-Weng Chen (2-1/1.82/6 saves) has solidified the bullpen after being picked up from the Chicago Cubs system. Campeche’s team ERA of 4.61 was third in the LMB this year behind Veracruz and Quintana Roo.

It’s easy to overlook the Aguilas pitching with Guzman and Diaz providing offensive fireworks, but Veracruz had a Liga-best ERA of 4.24 in 2011. Joel Vargas (11-7/3.60) turned in an impressive season while Juan Acevedo (9-5/3.68) was a solid number two starter, while Hector Navarro (3-3/4.25/15 saves) and Jailen Peguero (5-0/1.40/8 saves) have combined for 29 saves in leading a tremendous Aguilas bullpen. Veracruz will need the pitching because for all the home run power they have in the middle of the order, the Eagles hit a Liga-worst .273 and stuck out 718 times.

Campeche won 7 0f 10 meetings with Veracruz in the regular season and should prevail here as well.

LIGA REGULAR SEASON OVER, PLAYOFFS OPEN SATURDAY

The Mexican League’s 2011 regular season is in the history books, and first round playoff matchups are set.

The Mexico City Diablos Rojos won the Northern Zone title with the best record in the LMB at 63-40, finishing 6.5 games ahead of 57-37 Reynosa. Monterrey finished with seven straight losses to end up at 54-49 while Puebla took fourth at 53-53. Laguna, Monclova and Saltillo finished out of the playoffs.

In the LMB South, Quintana Roo took first at 62-42, 4.5 games up on 55-45 Campeche. Veracruz was third at 54-49 and Oaxaca copped the fourth and final playoff berth with a 51-51 mark after losing their last five games. Tabasco, Minatitlan and Yucatan finished 5-6-7 as the Leones, a perennial playoff team, turned in the worst record in the circuit at 43-62.

In the division semifinal openers Saturday, Monterrey will open at Reynosa while Mexico City hosts Monterrey in the North; Veracruz travels to Campeche and Oaxaca visits the Tigres in Cancun for the South semis.

For individual honors, Mexico City’s Luis Terrero fell short in his bid for a Triple Crown, but he did win the RBI title with 110. Oaxaca's Barbaro Canizares (pictured), the 2010 International League batting champion, was the top hitter with a .396 average while Jorge Guzman of Veracruz won the home run crown with 39, just ahead of Terrero’s 38.

Among pitchers, Marco Tovar of Reynosa topped the chart with a 3.11 ERA and tied with Campeche’s Francisco Campos, Tabasco’s Leo Gonzalez and the Diablos’ Marco Duarte in wins with 12. Saltillo’s Danny Rodriguez took the strikeout title with 118.

Standings and individual league leaders will be available in the BBM weekly newsletter Sunday. For a free subscription, email BaseballMexico@live.com.

PLAYOFF TEAMS SET IN LMB NORTH

Although first-round matchups haven’t been finalized, four teams have clinched berths in the 2011 Mexican League Northern Zone playoffs. Mexico City, which qualified for the postseason in mid-July, remains on top of the LMB North standings at 59-40, three-and-a-half games ahead of 44-43 Reynosa, four games up on 54-43 Monterrey, and eight games in front of 51-48 Puebla. Laguna and Saltillo are tied for fifth at 43-57, 8.5 games behind the Pericos with seven games remaining on the schedule, while Monclova brings up the rear at 42-59. The elimination of the Saraperos means there will be a new Liga champion this summer.

Things aren’t quite as well-defined in the LMB South, although three teams have assured themselves of playing into August. Quintana Roo has led the division for weeks, and the Tigres are 58-40, 4.5 games ahead of 52-43 Campeche. Veracruz is six games back at 52-46 while Oaxaca holds fourth with a 50-46 mark. Tabasco is barely clinging onto hope with a 47-53 mark, five games out of fourth, but Minatitlan (43-56) and Yucatan (40-58) are getting ready to break out the golf clubs.

The regular season will end July 28, with the playoffs set to start two days later.

LIGA PLAYOFF FIELD TAKING SHAPE AS FINAL MONTH BEGINS

Although it’s still a little early to start ordering tickets to playoff games in August, the haves and have-nots are showing a real sense of separation as the Mexican League enters the final month of its regular season schedule.

In the LMB North, Mexico City (49-34) and Reynosa (48-36) have been jockeying for first place for most of the season, Monterrey (46-39) plays well enough on the road to be a real postseason darkhorse and Puebla (40-40) is likely to finish fourth but unlikely to go far in the playoffs. Laguna (37-48) has won seven in a row to pull out of the cellar, Monclova (36-49) has never made a serious run this year and Saltillo (35-49) has looked nothing like the two-time champions they are.

In the LMB South, Quintana Roo (52-32) has the best record in the Liga and odds-on favorite for a Finals berth. Surprising Veracruz (46-39) is battling Oaxaca (42-37) and Campeche (43-38) for the second seed and home-field advantage in the first round. Tabasco (38-46), Yucatan (37-47) and Minatitlan (35-50) are the also-rans at this point, with the Leones as disappointing as Veracruz has been pleasantly surprising in 2011.

One facet of the July schedule to watch is that throughout July, all series will be two-game affairs instead of the usual three-game sets. Veteran-laden teams are likely to suffer from the shorter turnarounds and extra bus rides as clubs play three series per week instead of two. If the standings change, this will be a factor.

CULIACAN, OBREGON WIN ONE-RUN THRILLERS IN LMP SEMI OPENERS

Although it may take some getting used to having neither Hermosillo nor Mazatlan in the Mexican Pacific League playoff semifinals, the four remaining teams combined Tuesday night on a pair of hard-fought games to remind fans there’s lots of good baseball beyond the two traditional LMP powers.

Culiacan staved off a late Guasave rally to beat the Algodoneros, 3-2 in their semifinal opener. Tomateros starter Matt Buschmann (pictured) hurled seven strong innings for the win, allowing one run on five hits. Francisco Cordoba took the loss for Guasave, going 5.2 innings and getting nicked up for two Culiacan runs in the first frame and another in the fourth. Jose Rodriguez scored from third on a Francisco Mendez two bring the Cottoneers to within a run in the ninth, but Jose Silva recorded the final out for his fifth playoff save.

Obregon took a 2-1 lead over Los Mochis in the bottom of the seventh on a Iker Franco RBI single, then clung to that narrow margin the rest of the way to cop the first game of their Mex Pac Final Four series. The scored was tied at a run apiece through six frames as Mochis’ Dan Serafini and the Yaquis’ Luis Mendoza mostly traded zeros. The Caneros scored in the top of the first when Ramon Orantes’ single scored Justin Christian, but Obregon’s Carlos Valencia drilled a sixth-inning RBI safety to tie it at 1-1.

Culiacan and Obregon will host games Wednesday night.

OBREGON CLINCHES SEMI BERTH; GUASAVE AND MOCHIS ALSO QUALIFY

The Mexican Pacific League’s semifinal playoff field is set, although there’ll be the matter of seeding yet to decide. Obregon knocked defending champion Hermosillo out if the postseason with a 7-2 win Thursday night to give the Yaquis a five-game series win. Righty Marco Quevedo (pictured) earned his second playoff win by allowing just one unearned run in six innings while Barbaro Canizares homered and drove in four runs for the Yaquis. Geronimo Gil hit a homer for Hermosillo.

Mochis took a 3-games-to-2 lead in their series with Guasave after beating the Algodoneros, 6-4. Jason Bourgeois went 4-for-5 with four RBIs for the Caneros and Sandy Madera clubbed his fourth homer of the series. Guasave’s Mario Valenzuela went deep for his third longball of the set. Regardless of this series’ outcome, both teams will advance to the LMP Final Four because each has two or more wins against Hermosillo’s one and Mazatlan’s none in the battle for the wildcard berth determined by the number of opening round wins in a losing effort.

After a travel day Friday, the Caneros-Algodoneros series will continue Saturday in Guasave.

HERMOSILLO ON THE BRINK OF ELIMINATION

Postseason expectations were high in Hermosillo as the Naranjeros entered the Mexican Pacific League playoffs looking for a second straight pennant. Those hopes are looking dimmer after Obregon parlayed a 7-3 win Wednesday night into a 3-games-to-1 lead in their first round series. Agustin Murillo and Doug Clark belted homers for the Yaquis while starter Francisley Bueno pitched 6.2 innings for the win.

The Culiacan Tomateros completed a four-game sweep of Mazatlan to punch their ticket to the Mex Pac semifinals with a 5-3 win over the Venados in Mazatlan. Culiacan starter Oliver Perez had problems finding the plate with six walks in 4.2 innings, but let in just one run. An Amaury Cazana (pictured) grand slam in the fourth was the difference-maker for the Tomateros as Jose Silva earned his fourth straight save.

Guasave tied their series with Los Mochis at two games each with an 8-4 win in Mochis. Mario Valenzuela and Japhet Amador each whacked two-run homers for the Algodoneros, who roughed up Caneros starter Alberto Castillo (the LMP regular season wins leader with 9) for five runs in 4.2 innings.

Both Obregon and Mochis will host games Thursday night as Culiacan rests up for the semis.

CULIACAN BEATS MAZATLAN, ONE WIN AWAY FROM SWEEP

The Culiacan Tomateros are taking care of business in their Mexican Pacific League first round playoff series with Mazatlan. Culiacan topped the Venados, 4-1, Tuesday night to take a 3 games to 1 lead in their best-of-seven set. Jorge Vazquez (pictured)went 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs for the Tomateros and Francisco Campos turned in five good innings on the mound, letting in one run and striking out three hitters.

Obregon took a 2 to 1 lead in their series with Hermosillo after the Yaquis copped a 2-0 squeaker at home in Estadio Tomas Oroz Gaytan. The Yaquis’ Iker Franco broke open a scoreless tie with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth and pinch-hitter Albino Contreras sliced a two-out RBI single in the sixth. Four Obregon pitchers combined on the shutout as starter Rolando Valdez got the win with six strong innings.

Leo Heras was 4-for-4 with a homer, two runs and three RBIs to pace Guasave’s 10-7 win over Los Mochis. LMP batting champ Eduardo Arredondo had three hits and three runs for the Algodoneros, who are now up 3 to 2 in their set with Mochis. Cottoneers reliever Sergio Mora got the win in relief with 3.1 hitless innings. Caneros starter Dan Serafini was rocked for six runs on five hits and three walks in 1.2 frames.

Mazatlan, Obregon and Mochis all host fourth games of their respective series Wednesday night.

TEPIC, ACAPONETA WIN LIGA NOROESTE PLAYOFF OPENERS

The Mexican Northwest League has begun its 2010-11 playoffs with the top four squads from the six-team circuit squaring off in the semifinals.

In Santiago, the home Tabaqueros lost a 1-0 nailbiter to Tepic’s Universitario Diablos Rojos on Sunday night. The six-hit shutout for Tepic was spun by starter Rodolfo Aguilar (six innings, four hits) and relievers Martin Arturo Sotelo and Alan Ramirez. Sotelo earned the victory. Santiago’s hard-luck loser was Francisco Madero, who went the distance and only allowed one run on three hits. The game’s lone run came on a solo homer by Tepic’s Francisco Cordoba in the seventh. Tepic is a farm team for Mexico City and Oaxaca of the Mexican League, while Santiago is linked to Monclova and Tabasco.

Meanwhile, in Acaponeta, the hometown Cachorros slammed visiting Tuxpan, 14-3. This was over early when Acaponeta sent twelve men to the plate in the bottom of the first inning, scoring seven runs in the process. The Cachorros, who are a farm club for four Liga teams, put five more runs on the board in the eighth to salt the game away. Tuxpan is an affiliate of Nuevo Laredo and Laguna.

Santiago is the defending LBN champ. Acaponeta won top playoff seed this year with 14 points.

VINNY, VIDI, VICI: CASTILLA HOMERS TWICE FOR NARANJEROS IN 17-10 ROMP

Although he's been retired from Major League Baseball for over four years and only plays ball late in the winter, Vinny Castilla (pictured) showed no sign of rust Sunday as he helped lead Hermosillo to a 17-10 slugfest win over Obregon. Castilla launched a pair of homers, including a three-run blast during a five-run seventh inning en route to a 3-for-5 night with four RBIs and an errorless game at third base. The Mexican Pacific League first round series is now tied at one game apiece.

In other LMP postseason play, Culiacan scored five eighth-inning runs to post a 6-3 comeback win over Mazatlan to take a 2-0 lead in their series. Venados starter Walter Silva was solid with seven innings of one-run pitching and left the game with a 3-1 lead, but relievers Esteban Hernandez and Sergio Valenzuela were lit up for five counters in the eighth. Adan Amezua's two-run double capped the scoring for the Tomateros as Jose Silva retired the Deer in order to record his second 1-2-3 save in as as many nights.

And Los Mochis took a two-game lead in their opening set against Guasave with a 14-5 shellacking of the Algodoneros. Sandy Madera belted two homers while Justin Christian, Ramon Orantes and Saul Soto launched bombs of their own as the potent Caneros racked up 21 runs in two nights. If their pitching holds, Mochis will be a pennant threat.
After Monday's travel day, Game Three contests are set Tuesday in Obregon, Mazatlan and Los Mochis.

FRANCO, QUEVEDO STAR AS YAQUIS WIN FIRST ROUND OPENER

Iker Franco (pictured) cracked a two-run double and Marco Quevedo pitched six innings of one-run ball to lead Obregon to a 2-1 win at Hermosillo in the Mexican Pacific League playoff opener for both clubs. Franco’s extra-base hit to right field in the fourth inning off Edgar Gonzalez gave enough run support to Quevedo, who allowed four hits before giving way to three relievers who held on for the win.

Elsewhere in first round action, Juan Carlos Gamboa scored from third on Carlos Orrantia’s bunt down the first-base line in the top of the eleventh frame to give Los Mochis a thrilling 7-6 win in Guasave in their series lidlifter. Caneros reliever Luis Vazquez pitched hitless ball over both extra innings for the win as Orrantia finished with three RBIs on the night. Both teams combined to use 14 pitchers in the contest.

Also, top-seed Culiacan held off sixth-seed Mazatlan, 4-3, at Estadio General Angel Flores. The Venados held a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the eighth until Jorge Vazquez tied the game with an RBI double and Sergio Gastelum’s ground-out scored pinch runner Ramiro Pena with the go-ahead run from third. Then LMP saves champion Jose Silva struck out the Mazatlan side in the ninth to preserve the win.

Hermosillo, Guasave and Culiacan will host their respective Games Two on Sunday night.