For baseball fans what better way is there to spend a Friday evening, or Saturday or Sunday afternoon, than scoffing hot dogs and sipping suds at a ballpark with a home team in high-octane form.

Against most predictions, the new Charros de Jalisco franchise has turned out to be the surprise package of the Liga Mexicano del Pacifico season, climbing to second spot in the eight-team league after the first 10 games, boasting a healthy average of .600.

The Charros’ good form guarantees a lively and full crowd for this weekend’s series against the Mexicali Eagles at Guadalajara’s Panamerican Stadium, scheduled Friday, October 24, 7 p.m.; Saturday, October 25, 4 p.m. and Sunday, October 26, noon.

Victories in the past week in on-the-road series at the Tomateros (Tomatogrowers) de Culiacan and Mayos de Navojoa have made the Charros the current team to beat in the professional winter league that runs October through January.

Honors were shared in the first two games of last weekend’s series against Culiacan, with U.S. pitcher Graham Godfrey making his first start for the Charros in game two after being activated to the roster only a week earlier. He threw five complete innings, conceded one hit, striking out three and walking two, as the Charros leveled the series with a 9-5 win.

The Charros came back from conceding four runs in the 1st innings to win a tight final encounter 6-5. Standout performances were from Japhet Amador with two RBIs, including the tying run in the 7th, and U.S. closer Brian Broderick with his third save of the season.

The Charros and Navojoa were tied 1-1 after two games of their series on Wednesday, with the decider scheduled late Thursday.

The Charros play their home games at the Panamerican Athletics Stadium, located at Dr. Luis Farah and Santa Maria in Zapopan, a few blocks from the Mercado del Mar wholesale fish market. Those going by car can either take the Periferico and turn on Parras Arias by the University of Guadalajara CUCEA campus, or approach from Zapopan Centro on Juan Pablo II. Ample parking is available in the adjoining Telmex Auditorium lot. Tickets cost 25 (restricted view), 50, 100, 150, 300, 400, 500 and 600 pesos (VIP seating). Tickets are available at the stadium box office or previously in Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com.mx/Charros-de-Jalisco-boletos/artist/2031036 or by phone at (01-33) 3818-3800.
For more information on the Charros visithttp://charrosjalisco.com.