MAZATLAN
We are in the first round of the playoffs. Mazatlan plays Hermosillo. It appears to be a best-of-seven series.
Saturday
HERMOSILLO 2, MAZATLAN 1 IN HERMOSILLO (GAME 1--12 INNINGS)
Hermosillo scored in the fifth on a walk, an error, and a Norberto Obeso single. Anthony Giansanti homered in the seventh to tie it 1-1. It stayed 1-1 until the twelfth (no "start with a man on second" rule here). Alex Robles singled, stole second, and scored on a Yadiel Hernandez single for the deciding run. For Mazatlan, Isaac Paredes was 2-for-4. Edgar Torres pitched six innings, giving up an unearned run on five hits and three walks and striking out three.
Sunday
HERMOSILLO 3, MAZATLAN 1 IN HERMOSILLO (GAME 2)
Hermosillo scored single runs in the first, second, and eighth. The lone Mazatlan run came in the first. Mazatlan had just four hits. Francisco Rios pitched 6.1 innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks and striking out four. One run per game in the playoffs is not likely to get it done.
Record: Mazatlan is 0-2 in the best-of-seven series.
Next game: Mazatlan comes home for game three tomorrow night.
GIGANTES
The Gigantes are also in the playoffs. They are playing the Estrellas. This appears to be a best-of-seven series.
Saturday
GIGANTES 1, ESTRELLAS 0 AT GIGANTES (GAME 1)
The game's lone run scored in the seventh. Abiatal Avelino walked, went to third on a Jose Siri double, and scored on a foul sacrifice fly. Moises Sierra was 2-for-3 and had the RBI. Richelson Pena pitched 5.1 scoreless innings, giving up four hits and two walks and striking out three.
Sunday
GIGANTES 4, ESTRELLAS 3 AT ESTRELLAS (GAME 2)
Jose Siri homered in the seventh to break a 2-2 tie and a sacrifice fly brought in an insurance run. The Gigantes needed it, because the Estrellas scored in the ninth and had the tying run on third when the game ended. Ronald Guzman was 2-for-3 with a triple, a double, and a walk. Moises Sierra was 2-for-4 with a double. Siri was 2-for-5 with two home runs. Chris Ellis pitched 4.1 innings, giving up two runs on five hits and three walks and striking out four.
Record: The Gigantes are 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.
Next game: The Gigantes host the Estrellas this evening.
LARA, GAMES 31 AND 32
Saturday
LARA 6, MARGARITA 4 IN LARA
Lara led 5-0 through five, then held on. Gorkys Hernandez was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs. Nestor Molina pitched 5.2 innings, giving up two runs on three hits and no walks and striking out four.
Sunday
LARA 5, CARACAS 3 IN CARACAS
Yojhan Quevedo's pinch-hit three-run homer in the eighth turned a 3-2 deficit into a 5-3 victory. Carlos Rivero was 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs. Gorkys Hernandez was 2-for-5 with a double. Ex-Twin Logan Darnell pitched six innings, giving up two runs on six his and a walk and striking out one.
Stats: Hernandez is batting .333. Rivero is batting .329. Ildemaro Vargas was 1-for-5 and is batting .323. Josmar Cordero was 0-for-2 and is batting .318. Pedro Rodriguez pitched a perfect inning and has an ERA of 2.25.
Record: Lara is 19-13, in first place in the Venezuelan League West, one game ahead of Magallanes.
Next game: Lara hosts Caracas this evening.
MAYAGUEZ
All four Puerto Rican League teams are in the playoffs. Mayaguez is playing Manati. It appears to be a best-of-seven series.
Saturday
MAYAGUEZ 12, MANATI 2 IN MAYAGUEZ (GAME 1)
Mayaguez led 5-0 after two and 10-2 after five. Emmanuel Rivera was 2-for-3 with a walk. Christian Colon was 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs, and three RBIs. Jeremy Rivera was 2-for-4 with a double. Luis Medina pitched five innings, giving up two runs on two hits and three walks and striking out four.
Sunday
Sunday's game was postponed. It does not appear that it will be made up today. The next game is scheduled for Tuesday evening in Mayaguez. Mayaguez leads the series 1-0.
MELBOURNE, GAMES 6, 7, AND 8
Saturday
MELBOURNE 5, CANBERRA 3 IN MELBOURNE (GAME 1--7 INNINGS)
Ex-Twin Delmon Young's two-run double in the fifth gave Melbourne a 4-3 lead. A sacrifice fly provided an insurance run. Darryl George was 3-for-3 with a home run and two runs. Brian Flynn pitched four innings, giving up three unearned runs on two hits and two walks and striking out three.
CANBERRA 7, MELBOURNE 0 IN MELBOURNE (GAME 2--7 INNINGS)
Canberra scored two in the first and led all the way. Blake Gailen was 2-for-3 for Melbourne. Tyler Beardsley pitched four innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits and two walks and striking out four.
Sunday
MELBOURNE 11, CANBERRA 4 IN MELBOURNE (7 1/2 INNINGS--RAIN)
Melbourne scored four in the first and three in the third to build a 7-0 lead. Damek Tomscha was 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs. Ex-Twin Delmon Young was 2-for-2 with a walk and three runs. Kyle Perkins was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Darryl George was 2-for-5 with a double. Gunnar Kines struck out seven in five innings, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk.
Stats: Young is batting .440. George is batting .406. Gailen is batting .321. Tomscha is batting .321. Perkins is batting .304. Mitch Ellis and Scott Mitchinson each have an ERA of zero. Cameron Gibbens has an ERA of 2.70.
Record: Melbourne is 5-3, in first place in the Australian League, one game ahead of Sydney, Adelaide, and Brisbane. COVID concerns have played havoc with the Australian League schedule. Melbourne has played the most games, with eight. Canberra is second with five. Sydney has played two games, Perth one, and Adelaide and Brisbane have not played at all.
Next game: Melbourne is scheduled to play at Canberra Wednesday afternoon.