LMB Playoffs: Diablos Rojos Win Game 1; Monterrey, Laredo In Command

The Liga Mexicana de Beisbol playoffs continued this weekend.

Diablos Rojos del Mexico 5, Pericos de Puebla 0 – Erick Leal threw seven shutout innings, and Robinson Cano drove in three runs, two with a first-inning homer, as the Diablos Rojos took a 1-0 series lead Sunday afternoon.

Cano added another RBI with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.

Leal has gone 19 consecutive innings without allowing a run, and allowed four hits and struck out seven while walking none in Sunday’s win. Tomohiro Anraku and Jake Sanchez finished the game for the Diablos Rojos, striking out one each and allowing no hits over the final two innings.

The series resumes tonight at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu in Mexico City. Gabriel Ynoa will start for Puebla against Brooks Hall for Mexico.

Sultanes de Monterrey 12, Rieleros de Aguascalientes 6 – Christian Villanueva went 3-for-4 with seven RBIs as the Sultanes stomped the Rieleros to take a 2-0 series lead.

Villanueva hit a two-run single in the first, a three-run homer in the third, and a two-run double in the fifth for Monterrey. The homer was his second of the playoffs.

The Rieleros took a 6-5 lead in the top of the fifth on RBI doubles by Andretty Cordero and Anthony Garcia, but Monterrey answered with a five-run frame in the bottom of the inning behind Villanueva’s homer, an RBI single by Jose Cardona and a solo homer from Jermaine Palacios.

The series resumes Tuesday at Alberto Romo Chávez Park in Aguascalientes, with Tyler Viza starting for Monterrey. Aguascalientes has yet to name a starter.

Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos 5, Acereros de Monclova 4 – Luis Sardinas’ two-run double in the bottom of the third tied the game for the Dos Laredos, and Freddy Galvis hit a sac fly that sent Rangel Ravelo home with the winning run later in the inning to give the Tecos a 2-0 series lead against Monclova.

Junior Guerra, Donnie Hart, Sam Bordner, Geoff Broussard, and Arnaldo Hernandez combined for seven innings of scoreless relief, allowing just three hits and two walks, stifling the Monclova offense. Guerra earned the win, going 2 2/3 innings, allowing two hits, one walk, and striking out two.

The series resumes Tuesday in Monclova, with Wilmer Rios on the mound for the Acereros. Laredo hasn’t announced a starter.

Toros de Tijuana 4, Algodoneros de Union Laguna 0 – Matt Dermody threw six shutout innings, scattering five hits and a walk while striking out one, as Tijuana evened the series against Union Laguna at 1-1.

The Algodoneros got just one hit off the Tijuana bullpen and never got a runner past first base.

Blake Rutherford hit a two-run double to get Tijuana on the board in the top of the fifth, and Isaac Rodriguez’ double scored Rutherford for a 3-0 lead. Junior Lake drove in an insurance run with a single in the eighth.

Zac Lowther will start on Tuesday night for the Toros as the series moves back to Tijuana. Union Laguna has yet to announce a starter for Tuesday’s game.

Conspiradores de Queretaro 12, El Aguila de Veracruz 9 – Queretaro hit five homers on their way to a game one win against Veracruz Sunday.

Leonys Martin hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first, and Yurisbel Gracial followed with a solo homer, his first of two, as Queretaro took an early lead. Rusney Castillo hit a solo homer in the bottom of the second.

Gracial hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth, Kelvin Gutierrez hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh, and Yosmany Guerra drove in the game-winning runs with a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to put Queretaro up 12-9.

Elvis Araujo will start for Veracruz against Carlos Viera for Queretaro in game two Monday evening.

Leones de Yucatan 7, Guerreros de Oaxaca 5 – Yadir Drake’s two-run single in the bottom of the eighth and a 1-2-3 inning from Neftali Feliz pushed Yucatan past Oaxaca in game one.

Josh Fuentes homered for Yucatan in the seventh. Cuban pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne threw 5 2/3 innings for Yucatan, allowing one run, three singles, and struck out four.

Yucatan will start Cesar Valdez against Radhames Liz for Oaxaca in game two on Monday night.

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WBN Liga Mexicana de Beisbol: /news/category/mexico

Photo Credit: Robinson Cano #22 of Diablos Rojos celebrating after hitting home run during the match 3 of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (LMB) between Leones de Yucatan and Diablos Rojos del Mexico, at Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium. Diablos Rojos del Mexico defeat Leones de Yucatan 6-5. (Photo by Carlos Santiago/Eyepix Group/LightRocket via Getty Images)