2B-3B Brandon Macias batted in five runs to lead the Bravos de León (11-20) to a 12-3 win over the Olmecas de Tabasco (10-20) at Estadio Domingo Santana in León on May 6.
This was the first game for the Bravos' new manager Luis Carlos Rivera and new pitching coach Ray Loya. It was also the first game for 1B Leslie Anderson, who went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and three runs scored.
The Olmecas opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first on a triple by CF Yordanys Linares, who scored on a single by DH Sandy Madera. Olmecas starter LHP Carlos Teller didn't allow a hit until the forth inning. With two out and the bases empty, he walked LF Alfredo Marte. Anderson got the Bravos' first hit of the game. Teller then walked Macias to load the bases, then hit DH Joshua Banuelos to tie the game. The next batter, 3B Miguel Torrero, hit a two-RBI single, and the Bravos led 3-1 after four innings.
The Bravos got a "small ball" run in the fifth. CF Sergio Garcia opened the inning with a single. He moved to second on a hit batter (Teller hit three of them), and third on a line drive out. He then scored on a sacrifice fly by Marte. Teller was relieved by RHP Rodolfo Aguirre after walking the next batter.
The Bravos made it 5-1 in the sixth when Banuelos led off with a triple off the right field wall (his first Mexican League hit), then scored on a single by Torrero.
The Olmecas got their second run of the game in the top of the seventh. Bravos starter RHP Sergio Mitre was relieved by LHP Anthony Gomez after giving up a walk and a single. The only batter Gomez faced, RF Alex Romero, hit an RBI single.
The Bravos started to pull away with a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh by Macias. They then put it away with five runs in the eighth, starting with an RBI single by SS Hector Hernandez. The next batter, RF Leandro Castro, hit a popup into left field that the Olmecas couldn't find. (The lighting in Estadio Domingo Santana still isn't very good.) One of the fielders picked the ball up from the ground and threw it to third base, causing a force out. Two batters later, Anderson struck out on a wild pitch, and went to first. Macias then hit a three-RBI double, and scored when Banuelos reached on an error.
Mitre got the win, allowed two runs on seven hits, didn't record a strikeout. Teller got the loss, allowed four runs on three hits, struck out three. Macias finished 2-for-3, Anderson and Torrero 2-for-4. Torrero had three RBI, and also made a good play at third base in the top of the fourth. Romero finished 3-for-4 for the Olmecas.
Attendance: 1,753
Anderson (Guantanamo, Cuba) played for Cuba in the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classics. He defected in 2010, and was in the Rays organization 2010-2013. Garcia was in the Angels organization in 2009. Macias (Flagstaff, AZ) played college ball at Kansas, was in the Brewers organization 2011-16. Banuelos (Hanford, CA) played college ball for Fresno Pacific, was in the Royals organization 2014-2016. Thus was his second game with the Bravos; they signed him on April 27. Mitre (Los Angeles) played in 143 major league games (64 starts) from 2003 to 2011 for the Cubs, Marlins, Yankees, and Brewers. His career record was 13-30, 5.21 ERA, 365 strikeouts. This was his second start for the Bravos; they signed him on April 29. Castro (Dominican Republic) was in the Phillies organization 2007-14.
Teller (Managua, Nicaragua) was in the Pirates organization 2004-2008, and the Giants organization 2012-2013. He led the Nicaraguan League in wins, with a 7-0 record, in 2013-14. Linares (Remedios, Cuba) defected in 2015. Madero (Dominican Republic) was in the A's and Orioles organizations. Aguirre was in the Pirates organization in 2008. Romero (Venezuela) played two major league seasons, 2008-09, with the Diamondbacks, had a career average of .239.
Bravos official site
Olmecas de Tabasco official site
