Charros de Jalisco baseball fans were surely disappointed by the team’s rout in Culiacan this week during the final three games of the Mexican Pacific League championship series. The Charros, who had seemed to roll over most opponents in their first season back in the league in 20 years, were even expected by Culiacan baseball fans to beat the Tomateros. But it was not to be. With the exception of the first game, where the Tomateros de Culiacan used an offensive explosion to win, the oponents used very good pitching to shut down the Charros’ potent offense.
Culiacan outscored the Charros in the series 28-17. It is often said that good pitching wins over good hitting in a seven-game series. That adage holds true for this series.
No sooner did the Charros come home, but they offered up a day of autographs at their stadium, which fans cued up in the hundreds to take advantage of.
Next up
The World Series of Caribbean Baseball is set to begin in San Juan, Puerto Rico on the 2nd of February. The Tomateros de Culiacan, by virtue of their championship season in the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico, will represent Mexico.
The other countries participating in the series are Cuba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and The Dominican Republic. The rosters are expanded for the five teams and the Tomateros have chosen five Charros to help fill out their team. Manny Rodriguez, Marquez Smith, Terance Marin, Juan Delgadillo and Carlos Vasquez were selected to join the team in Puerto Rico.
The games begin on the 2nd of February and the finals are held on the 8th. Mexico opens play against Cuba at 10 a.m. February 2. They play again the next day at 4:30 p.m. versus Puerto Rico. The team is off February 4 but resumes play against the Dominican Republic at 4:30 p.m. February 5. The team’s final game is with Venezuela at 10 a.m. on February 6.
The 1st Semifinal game will be held at 10:05 AM on the 7th with the 2nd Semifinal game beginning at 4:30 PM.
The winners of those two games will meet in the Finals to be played at 2:30 PM on the 8th with the winner of that game crowned the Champions of the Caribbean.