Tomateros de Culiacán are the new champions of the Mexican Pacific League (LMP) of baseball

Tomateros de Culiacán became the new champion of the Mexican Pacific League (LMP) of baseball tonight, after defeating Mayos de Navojoa 6-4 in 12 long innings and winning the 2017-18 Final Series by a score of 4-3.

In a downcast and silent Manuel 'Ciclón' Echeverría Stadium, the Sinaloa-based 'guinda' club won its 11th crown in its history in the Mexican winter baseball circuit, and also secured its spot to play in the 2018 Caribbean Series in Guadalajara, Jalisco.

American pitcher Casey Coleman (2-1) was the winning pitcher, while his compatriot Chad Gaudin (2) supported him in securing the victory. Carlos Bustamante (0-1) lost for Mayos.

Mayos took the lead on the scoreboard 1-0 in the second inning, after Leo Heras hit a run-scoring single that brought Fernando Flores home, to the delight of the local crowd.

However, Tomateros turned the tables in the fourth inning to 2-1, thanks to a panoramic two-run home run by Sinaloa slugger Joey Meneses (2).

Not giving up, the Sonoran 'tribe' achieved the second turnaround of this seventh and final game in the fifth inning, with another two-run "bomb" hit by Jesús Castillo (2) from Mexicali, giving them a 3-2 advantage.

But this advantage only lasted two innings for the "tribe" of Mayos, as Tomateros equalized the score to 3-3 in the fateful seventh inning, to the chagrin and disbelief of the Sonoran fans gathered at "Ciclón" Echeverría.

American Justin Greene was the one responsible for the tie for the Sinaloa "guindas", after hitting a run-scoring single that pushed Cuban Ronnier Mustelier to home plate.

Once again, the Mayos took the lead in the eighth inning, with Jesús Castillo (3) hitting his second home run of the night, this one solo, to make it 4-3.

Against all odds, Culiacán tied the game at four in the top of the ninth, with a sacrifice fly by Sebastián Elizalde, sending the game into extra innings, where they finally clinched the victory that gave them their 11th title in LMP history.

It wasn't until the 12th extra inning that Alfredo Amézaga hit a run-scoring single to make it 5-4, and then Jonathan Aceves hit a sacrifice fly to give the final score of 6-4.

Tomateros will represent Mexican winter baseball in the upcoming 2018 Caribbean Series, which will be held starting in February at the Panamerican Stadium in Guadalajara, Jalisco.

The 'guindas' will strengthen their team in the coming days to face the "Caribbean Classic" against the winter champions from Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.

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