Viva Los Toros: Tijuana Toros Weekly Recap #10
Tijuana Toros weekly recap
The Toros had a great week at home with new manager Pedro Mere. After looking really good at Gasmart Stadium, the “Bulls” headed down south for another long trip looking to stay close in the standings in the North Zone.
Roster Move
During the week a couple of roster moves happened for the Toros. One was an interesting signing and the other a controversial loan. First the Toros incorporated Mexican-American pitcher Jonathan Maciel. The 23 year-old righty had never played in Mexican League spending four years in the Detroit Tigers minor league system. He started 25 games last year between Double-A Erie and Single-A Lakeland. He was in the mound for 134 innings, struck out 68 and walked 33 batters. The controversial move came mid-week when it was announced that former Team Mexico World Baseball Classic participant, Eduardo Arredondo was going to Yucatan. El “Mosco” is now a “Lion” after arriving in the south on a loan for the rest of the year. The 31 year-old fan favorite wasn’t living up to expectation after a decent 2015 season in which hit had 129 hits and scored 76 runs to be named the team’s Most Valuable Player. In the current season he’s played in 49 games batting for .247 with 45 hits and 23 runs scored.
At Veracruz
Game 1: Coming from behind
The Rojos del Aguila had a couple of big innings after scoring three times in the second and four more in the eighth, but Tijuana wouldn’t be denied. The Toros were down twice in the game by a lot of runs, but pulled off the win after a Juan Apodaca two-run shot in the tenth inning for a 9-8 victory. Barry Enright was the starting pitcher and was on the mound for five innings of work allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out two. Jose Meraz got the win and Jason Urquidez saved his 20th game of the season.
Game 2: Series win
Alex Romero had a four-hit night, one of them a solo shot and he also produced two runs in the 4-2 Toros victory and with that Tijuana secured the series in Beto Avila Stadium. Hector Ambriz started the game, but he only threw two innings because of elbow soreness. Jose Manuel Lopez got the win. Jason Urquidez had his 21st save of the year as the Toros looked for the sweep in the third match up against the “Reds”.
Game 3: Can’t sweep on a close one
The “Bulls” couldn’t complete the series sweep after dropping the last game by a score of 2-1 in Veracruz. In the third inning with two outs, Luis Fonseca hit a double off Miguel Peña and then Jose Martinez blasted a home run to take a 2-0 lead. Alex Romero had a triple in the fifth and Carlos Valencia batted him in, but it wasn’t enough.
Peña was the losing pitcher after working for five innings of seven hit ball, he allowed a pair of runs on the homer and struck out three.
At Tabasco
Game 1: Bats out
The Toros started the series against the Olmecas with a bang, or a few of those. Olmo Rosario hit his sixth home run of the season and had five runs batted in for Tijuana in the route of Tabasco. The final score was 16-3. A four-run rally in the second inning, two more in the third, three in the fourth, one in the seventh, a pair in the eight and four in the ninth gave the Toros the win. Alex Sanabia got his seventh win of the year by working five innings of four hit ball, he allowed two runs and struck out one while walking one batter.
Game 2: Another series win
On the second game of the series Tijuana jumped out to a commanding 7-0 lead after being scoreless for four innings. A five run rally prove to be the game changer. The Olmecas got a pair but that was it in the “Bulls’” victory 7-2 to clinch a series win. Horacio Ramirez was in the mound for seven strong innings in which he didn’t allow any runs he walked just one batter and punched out four to get to 3-4 in the season.
Game 3: Toros sweep
On getaway day the Toros got a 4-3 win in a very close game after coming from behind. A four-run rally in the sixth inning was the difference after being down 3-0. Barry Enright earned his eight win of the year after being in the mound for six innings in which he allowed three runs on four hits striking out a batter. Jason Urquidez got his 22nd save of the season. With the victory the Toros wrap up a 5 and 1 week on the road and they now have 50 wins on the season and 39 losses, 6 games behind the leader in the North Zone Monterrey Sultanes, with a playoff spot in fourth place secured for now.
A reporter for EVT in the region, also for Síntesis TV in Baja California and a correspondent for ESPN México. A sports freak, crazy about the teams in San Diego and Tijuana. My goal is to provide information for the people by always being a fan. Understanding the point of view of the players and organizations and with that to tell the truth with an objective approach.