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Mexican Sweat
The Mexican League Baseball Playoffs Will Offer Up Some Great Post-Season Play.

Ray Z. Perea

8.13.02 - Post-Season play in the Mexican Baseball League is heating up. The Semi-Final rounds are set. In the Southern Division the Mexico Tigres are settled in to face the Oxaca Guerreros. Each team traveled a different route to get to the second round.

The Tigres had to go the whole nine yards to put themselves in position to contend for the Mexican League Championship Series.

The club won game seven of their series with the Lions of Yucatan in dramatic fashion. Mattias Carrillo’s’ bloop single in the 11th-inning propelled the team to an 8-4 victory, and a 4-3 series win. Rafael Roque pitched 5-hitless innings for the win.

The Guerreros of Oxaca disposed of Vera Cruz in a 4-game sweep to advance. These two teams will hit the diamond to determine the Southern Champion on Wednesday, August 14.

In the Northern Division playoffs the best team in the Mexican League regular season will be looking to finish what they have started. The Mexican Diablo’s had the best record in the 2002 Mexican League campaign.

The Diablo’s dropped only one game to the Monclova team to get to the next round. They will go up against the Laredo Tecolotes. The Tecolotes won a competitive series with the Saltillos’. Laredo prevailed with a 4-2 series win.

The Northern Division Semi-Final begins Tuesday, August 13.

The Diablo’s had a stellar first-half of a season but could not duplicate their effort in the latter half. On the other side of the coin the Mexico Tigres had a first-half that did not turn many heads. The team was able to turn it around in the second half of the season to gain momentum into the playoffs.

“We have been playing great lately, and we feel confident “, Tigre GM, Chito Rodriguez tells MLN. Rodriguez has been a part of the Mexican League for more than 20-years.

The Diablo’s and the Tecolotes are evenly matched offensively in the Northern Division Semi. The difference maker may be on the mound.

Toeing the rubber will be familiar faces Roberto Ramirez, Octaveo Alvarez and reliever Ben Rivera for the Diablo’s. This trio is game ready and will bring their A-game every appearance.

The Tecolotes will not be shaking in their boots. The Laredo outfit handled the Diablo’s in the regular season taking the season series between the two teams.

Just like the “burritos” and the “cerveza” in the stands the Mexican League Post Season will be filling and very quenching.