Pericos de Puebla 13, Diablos Rojos del Mexico 5 - Luis Castro and Henry Ramos drove in three runs a piece, and Herlis Rodriguez clubbed a two-run homer as the Pericos took Game 1 from the Diablos Rojos decisively.
Diablos starter Ricardo Pinto lasted just two innings, allowing four runs on four hits, and the Reds bullpen struggled, with J.C. Mejia allowing three runs on five hits in 1/3 of an inning during the sixth and Jimmy Yacabonis allowing five runs on four hits and a walk when he threw 1/3 of an inning in the eighth.
Franklin Barreto hit a two-run homer and Jon Singleton hit a solo homer for Mexico in the loss.
Game 2 is tonight at 9 p.m. at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu in Mexico city.
Guerreros de Oaxaca 2, Olmecas de Tabasco 1 - Luis Miranda struck out seven and allowed just two hits over seven scoreless innings as the Guerreros took the first game of the series from Tabasco.
Leonel Valera scored on a wild pitch in the top of the seventh to give Oaxaca a 1-0 lead, and then Ricardo Valenzuela doubled Juniel Querecuto home for the run that stood as the game-winner.
Alan Espinoza hit a solo homer for Tabasco to lead off the bottom of the ninth, and Calvin Estrada singled to get the tying run on base, but that was as close as the Olmecas would get.
Game 2 is tonight at 9:30 p.m. EDT in Tabasco.
Caliente de Durango 17, Sultanes de Monterrey 5 - Seven of nine Durango starters drove in at least one run as the Caliente scorched the Sultanes in Game 2, scoring 17 runs without hitting a single homer to even the series at a game apiece.
Daniel Johnson hit a two-run double in the bottom of the third, Reynaldo Rodriguez hit a two-run double an inning later, and the Caliente scored five in the fifth, getting a two-run triple from Jonathan Villar and RBI doubles from Leobaldo Pina and Estevan Florial to take a 13-0 lead after five innings.
They added four more in the bottom of the seventh, two of the runs coming on a triple by Antonio Castaneda.
Javier Salazar drove in four runs for Monterrey in the loss.
Game 3 is Friday at 9:30 p.m. EDT at Walmart Park in Monterrey.
Charros de Jalisco 5, Toros de Tijuana 3 (11 Innings) - Michael Wielansky scored on a passed ball in the top of the 11th, and Kyle Garlick's sac fly later in the inning scored Jared Walsh as the Charros evened the series with an extra-innings win in Tijuana.
Alex D. Mejia drove in two runs for Jalisco, one with a single in the fifth and another with a sac fly in the seventh.
Game 3 is Friday at 10:35 p.m. at Estadio Panamericano in Zapopan, Jalisco.
Where to Watch – All Liga Mexicana de Beisbol games are streamed live with a subscription on LMB TV, and a season subscription is on sale for MX$799 (about US$46) until April 30. Select games are streamed live on the YouTube page for Latin American network Claro Sports.
LMB Series de Zona Schedule
All times Eastern Daylight Time
* - If Necessary
Tuesday, Aug. 18
Sultanes de Monterrey 6, Caliente de Durango 2 - Game 1
Toros de Tijuana 4, Charros de Jalisco 0 - Game 1
Wednesday, Aug. 19
Pericos de Puebla 13, Diablos Rojos del Mexico 5 - Game 1
Guerreros de Oaxaca 2, Olmecas de Tabasco 1 - Game 1
Caliente de Durango 17, Sultanes de Monterrey 5 - Game 2
Charros de Jalisco 5, Toros de Tijuana 3 (11 Innings) - Game 2
Thursday, Aug. 20
9 p.m. - Pericos de Puebla at Diablos Rojos del Mexico - Game 2
9:30 p.m. - Guerreros de Oaxaca at Olmecas de Tabasco - Game 2
Friday, Aug. 21
9:30 p.m. - Caliente de Durango at Sultanes de Monterrey - Game 3
10:35 p.m. - Toros de Tijuana at Charros de Jalisco - Game 3
Saturday, Aug. 22
6 p.m. - Diablos Rojos del Mexico at Pericos de Puebla - Game 3
7 p.m. - Olmecas de Tabasco at Guerreros de Oaxaca - Game 3
7 p.m. - Caliente de Durango at Sultanes de Monterrey - Game 4
9:30 p.m. - Toros de Tijuana at Charros de Jalisco - Game 4
Sunday, Aug. 23
4 p.m. - Diablos Rojos del Mexico at Pericos de Puebla - Game 4
7 p.m. - Olmecas de Tabasco at Guerreros de Oaxaca - Game 4
7 p.m. - Caliente de Durango at Sultanes de Monterrey - Game 5*
7 p.m. - Toros de Tijuana at Charros de Jalisco - Game 5*
Monday, Aug. 24
9 p.m. - Diablos Rojos del Mexico at Pericos de Puebla - Game 5*
9 p.m. - Olmecas de Tabasco at Guerreros de Oaxaca - Game 5*
Tuesday, Aug. 25
9:30 p.m. - Sultanes de Monterrey at Caliente de Durango - Game 6*
10:35 p.m. - Charros de Jalisco at Toros de Tijuana - Game 6*
Wednesday, Aug. 26
9 p.m. - Pericos de Puebla at Diablos Rojos del Mexico - Game 6*
9:30 p.m. - Guerreros de Oaxaca at Olmecas de Tabasco - Game 6*
9:30 p.m. - Sultanes de Monterrey at Caliente de Durango - Game 7*
10:35 p.m. - Charros de Jalisco at Toros de Tijuana - Game 7*
Thursday, Aug. 27
9 p.m. - Pericos de Puebla at Diablos Rojos del Mexico - Game 7*
9:30 p.m. - Guerreros de Oaxaca at Olmecas de Tabasco - Game 7*
Photo: The Caliente de Durango celebrate their 17-5 win in Game 2 of their second round series against Monterrey. (Photo courtesy of the Caliente de Durango)