Peter O’Brien hit a key solo-shot in the inning to give Culiacán a commanding 5-0 lead in this evening’s playoff game against Los Mochis. The Cuban-American slugger also scored one time on the evening to lead the Tomateros to a 7-2 win and a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven series with the Cañeros.
Yasmany Tomás collected two hits and scored a run in four trips to the dish for Los Mochis and in a losing cause. The slugger was a key piece in the Cañeros championship last season and figures to be a key piece for the team this postseason.
B💣MBRIEN en #ModoPlayoffs 🤩
Bambinazo para comenzar bien el 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣#SKYSportsMX #LAMPxSKY #OnFire🔥 pic.twitter.com/x6GC5qDtM1
— Tomateros de Culiacán (@clubtomateros) January 2, 2024
Yadir Drake swatted two hits in four at-bats, all while scoring two runs to do his part in Guasave’s 3-1 win over Mexicali in the first game of their postseason series. The “Black Panther” as he is known by the Cuban faithful leads a potent Guasave offense in their quest to win their first championship since 1972.
In other news the Venados de Mazatlán selected Odrisamer Despaigne in the re-entry draft to reinforce their pitching staff. The right-hander from Havana had a 5-2 record, 2.98 earned run average and fanned 68 in 87 ⅔ innings. The hurler also posted a 1.15 WHIP over that span.
Cuban action on the evening:
Peter O’Brien (CUL) 4-2,2B,HRRBI,R*
Yasmany Tomás (LM) 4-2,R
Maikel Serrano (JAL) 3-1
Yoelquis Guibert (GUA) 4-2
Yadir Drake (GUA) 3-1,2B,2R
*Cuban-American