Orange of Hermosillo took advantage of eight walks received and four defensive errors by Sultanes to defeat Monterrey 8-1 and secure the series being played at Fernando Valenzuela Stadium.
The team from Monterrey is going through a streak of five straight losses, in addition to not being able to win as a visitor with seven stumbles in the Mexican Pacific League.
For the second day in a row, the starting pitcher for Fantasmas Grises did not have a fortunate outing, as Francisco Ríos allowed seven runs, five earned, in three innings of work.
The defensive of Monterrey has committed a total of seven errors in the two games played in the capital of Sonora. Four of the eight walks given turned into runs for the Naranjeros.
The winning pitcher was the 20-year-old left-hander, Cristian Garza (1-0), in relief. "El Látigo" Ríos (1-2) lost.
Hermosillo scored three runs in the first inning with only one hit. Jasson Atondo drew a walk and Alfonso Rivas hit a home run to make it 2-0; then Karter Kieboom drew a walk and later scored on an error by Diego Madero.
The home team made it 5-0 in the bottom of the third. Alfonso Rivas got a hit; Sean Bouchard received a walk; both advanced on an error by Francisco Ríos who threw poorly to first, and both scored on a productive hit by Roberto Ramos.
Sultanes got rid of the shutout in the fourth inning with a run-scoring hit by Juan Mora, but they left the bases loaded when Brandon Villarreal was out with a fly ball to left field to end the threat.
The Naranjeros scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, and closed the scoring with one more in the fifth.
The series will end this Thursday at 8:30 pm with Duilio Ochoa (0-1) as the pitcher for the Monterrey team, facing Wilmer Ríos (0-0).
MOVEMENTS MADE
Sultanes obtained infielder Diego Madero, loaned by Tomateros de Culiacán for the rest of the season.
At 31 years of age, Madero made his debut with Monterrey this Wednesday as the seventh batter and third baseman.
The Fantasmas Grises removed Alberto Carrreón from the roster, and also reactivated Delino DeShields, who took the place of Ben Aklinski.
MGC