The Rieleros
de Aguascalientes (“Railroaders”)
split a Mexican League double-header at home against the Saraperos
de Saltillo (“Serape Makers”)
on May 15. The Rieleros won the first game 7-3, and lost the second
game 10-4. A double-header (two seven-inning games) was played
because of a rainout the previous night.
First game: The starters
were Fredy Quintero for the Rieleros, and Victor Garate for the
Saraperos. Quintero was in the Dodgers organization in 2008 and 2009.
Garate, a Venezuelan left-hander, made four appearances for the
Nationals in 2009. He was in the Astros, Dodgers, and Brewers
organizations from 2005 to 2012.
Neither of the starters lasted very
long. The Saraperos opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly by CF
Jesus Cota in the top of the first. The Rieleros answered with an RBI
single by CF Rene Reyes and a two-RBI double by 1B Willis Otanez.
(Otanez played three games for the Orioles in 1998, and split the
1999 season between the Orioles and Blue Jays; he hit seven home runs
in 1999.)
In the top of the third inning, Rufino
Candelario reached first on an error with one out. He was forced out
at second when 3B Henry Mateo hit a ground ball, and Mateo reached on
a fielder's choice. (Mateo is a Dominican Republican who played six
seasons with the Expos/Nationals.) The Saraperos then executed a
perfect hit-and-run. Daniel Castro hit a slash bunt toward the
shortstop, and Mateo had a good enough head start so that there was
no play. A walk loaded the bases, but a fly out ended the inning with
the bases loaded.
