Encabezados por el pitcheo de Nivaldo Rodríguez y el bateo de Víctor Hugo Mendoza, los Sultanes derrotaron 4-1 to the Algodoneros del Unión Laguna in the Mobil Super Stadium to begin the play-off stage in the Northern Zone of the Mexican Baseball League.

Before 12,138 fans, Christian Villanueva opened with a double in the bottom of the second inning and "El Chule" Mendoza hit a two-run homerun that would make a difference on the scoreboard.

Nivaldo, leader in effectiveness in the Northern Division in the regular season with 2.76, was the winning pitcher with six innings of work, six hits, one run, and five strikeouts.

Carlos Belén retired the seventh inning without allowing damage when entering with two runners on base; Luis González pitched the eighth inning and Carlos Belén recorded the save by getting the final three outs in three batters.

The loss was for Joe Van Meter who allowed the four runs, receiving five hits in five and a third innings.

Monterrey scored another pair of runs in the sixth inning. Ramiro Peña reached home plate with a wild pitch by José Torres, and Tito Valenzuela added the fourth run with a productive hit by Villanueva.

The Algodoneros broke the shutout in the seventh, with a hit by Juan Carlos Escarra that drove in Nick Torres.

The defensive play of the game was made by Javier Salazar at third base when he fielded a grounder by Alejandro Flores in the fifth inning with bare hands.

The series will continue on Thursday at 19:30 hours with César Vargas as the starting pitcher for the home team, facing Aldo Montes.

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