Winter Wonderland: Games of January 8

MAZATLAN

MAZATLAN 7, HERMOSILLO 2 IN MAZATLAN

Mazatlan scored three in the first and three in the third to take a 6-1 lead.  Edson Garcia was 2-for-3 with a walk and four RBIs.  Anthony Giansanti was 2-for-4 with two runs.  Edgar Torres pitched five innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk and striking out three.

Record:  Mazatlan trails the best-of-seven series 2-3.

Next game:  Mazatlan is at Hermosillo tonight.

GIGANTES

GIGANTES 5, ESTRELLAS 3 AT ESTRELLAS

Kelvin Gutierrez hit a two-run homer in the first and the Gigantes led all the way.  Abiatal Avelino was 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.  Gutierrez was 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs.  Chris Ellis struck out seven in six innings, giving up one run on four hits and two walks.

Record:  The Gigantes won the best-of-seven series 4-2.

Next game:  The Gigantes will play the winner of the Aguilas/Toros series in the finals.  The first game of the series will be Tuesday.

LARA, GAMES 36 AND 37

MAGALLANES 7, LARA 2 IN LARA (GAME 1--7 INNINGS)

Magallanes scored three in the fourth to break a 2-2 tie.  Osman Marval was 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs.  Yojhan Quevedo was 2-for-3 with a double.  Nestor Molina started and pitched 3.1 innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk and striking out two.

LARA 5, MAGALLANES 4 IN LARA (GAME 2--7 INNINGS)

Yordanys Linares RBI single in the sixth tied it 4-4 and Josmar Cordero's RBI single in the seventh won it for Lara.  Cesar Puello was 2-for-4 with a walk.  Linares was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.  Ex-Twin Logan Darnell pitched four innings, giving up two runs on six hits and no walks and striking out two.

Record:  Lara is 23-14, in first place in the Venezuelan League West, 1.5 games ahead of Magallanes.

Next game:  Lara is at Magallanes tonight.

MAYAGUEZ

Mayaguez' series with Manati remains in limbo due to COVID concerns.  The last I knew, a decision would be made Sunday or Monday in regard to whether the series would be continued.  If it is not, Caguas, which won the other semi-final series, will be declared the champion.

MELBOURNE

MELBOURNE 4, CANBERRA 3 AT CANBERRA (10 INNINGS)

Damek Tomscha hit a three-run homer in the ninth to tie it 3-3.  Blake Gailen then singled in the tenth to bring home the go-ahead run.  Tomscha was 2-for-3 with a walk in addition to the home run, which was his fifth.  Jake Romanski was 2-for-4.  Brian Flynn struck out eight in 6.1 scoreless innings, giving up four hits and no walks.

Record:  Melbourne is 6-4, in second place in the Australian League, no "games back", but in second by winning percentage behind Adelaide.