Mexico City — The South Zone Championship Series got off to a good start for the Leones when Jonathan Jones hit a pair of solo homers and four hits to top the Diablos Rojos del Mexico 6-3 on Saturday.
Picking up the win, Yoanner Negrin (15-7) allowed just three hits and one run, while walking one, over seven innings.
It was the Diablos’ first home-game loss this season at Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium.
Mexico cut the deficit to 2-1 in the third after Carlos Figueroa hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Armando Araiza.
After Yucatan added a run in the fifth on a single by Alex Liddi, the Leones extended their lead in the seventh inning when Luis Juarez hit a two-run home run.
The Leones tacked on another run in the ninth when Jones hit a solo home run.
The Diablos’ Matt Gage (10-6) went six innings, allowing three runs and four hits. He also struck out four and walked four.
Playoff action resumed at 1 p.m. today (Sunday) in Mexico City and comes to Merida’s Kukulcan Alamo Stadium starting Tuesday.
| CLUB | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | ||||
| YUC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 0 | ||||
| MEX | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
PG: Negrín (1-0)
PD: Gage (0-1)
SV: None
HR: Jones 2 (2), Juárez (1) for YUC
