Virtuous start for Unión Laguna

Allen Córdoba produced 3 runs and the bullpen closed the door, so that the Algodoneros del Unión Laguna defeated the Dorados de Chihuahua last night with a score of 5 to 4, in the opening game of the 2024 season of the Mexican Baseball League, against a Full house at the Revolution Stadium.

The game did not start well for Guinda starter, right-hander Aldo Montes, who filled the house in the same first inning, after an error by first baseman Carlos Franco on a hit by Khalil Lee, followed by consecutive walks to Leobaldo Piña and Sebastián Elizalde, followed by a grounder to shortstop, the work of Venezuelan Diego Rincones, whom Didi Gregorius put out at first base, but Lee scored the run “of the pool.” Although the Dorados threatened again in the second round by filling the house, they were unable to do any damage to maintain the minimum distance.

The home team’s tie came at the close of that second inning, in which the house was filled with a single by Nick Torres that was combined with an error by third baseman Drew Mendoza, Carlos Franco immediately negotiated a walk and Dean Nevárez fired a line hit to the right, although Alejandro Flores struck out for the second out, the visiting starter, left-handed Ángel Padrón, hit Allen Córdoba on the left foot so that Torres scored walking from third base, to the uproar of the fans.

With a 3-run rally, the Laguneros took the lead during the closing of the fourth inning: with one out, Nevárez and Flores received walks and immediately, Allen Córdoba hit a single to the center with which Nevárez rang so that Laguna took an advantage that was already I wouldn’t lose. After a wild pitch, Didi Gregorius detonated a hit to the right, to take Flores and Córdoba towards the pentagon and put the game at 4-1.

But the Dorados did not give up the attack and managed to get closer during the opening of the fifth roll, in which Leobaldo Piña opened the round with a single to right and “El Predador” Sebastián Elizalde followed to disappear the ball over the right field fence , his first home run of the season moved the score to 4 – 3. It was not until the fateful seventh, that the Guindas scored their fifth run, which was definitive and fell “on a wheelie” into Torres’ spikes, when the house was full and Córdoba negotiated a walk against the Dominican Jesús Reyes.

Jake Jewell pitched the eighth for the Algodoneros and the house was full, although he dominated Lee with a fly ball to center, Córdoba threw to second base and the ball hit the runner’s neck, and then remained alive, which Saúl Garza took advantage of to score the fourth visitor line. Thomas McIllraith got his first save of the season after retiring the ninth inning in order, to give way to the celebration, with a light show, fireworks, a new team party and a concert included.

The victory was in the hands of Taylor Williams, when he retired a scoreless inning, with 2 strikeouts; He lost Ángel Padrón, in 3 and a third innings, allowing 5 hits and 4 earned runs, walking 4 and striking out 3 batters. Today the second of the series will be played, starting at 6:00 p.m., with a pitch duel between Australian left-hander Lewis Thorpe for Chihuahua and Jeremy Walker for Unión Laguna.

After a wild pitch, Didi Gregorius detonated a hit to the right, to take Alejandro Flores and Allen Córdoba towards the pentagon and put the game 4 by 1.