DOUGLAS RECOVERS FROM EARLY MISCUES TO TOP TUCSON 11-5

By Konrad Kisch

Douglas powered past Tucson 11–5 in a matchup featuring offensive fireworks and standout performances. Tucson jumped ahead early, capitalizing on a pair of errors and timely hits to take a 2–0 lead in the second. Douglas responded in the third with three runs, highlighted by consecutive RBI doubles from Dutch VanBurkleo, Darrell McCall, and Fred Filipelli. Tucson briefly regained the lead in the fifth behind a Jose Cesar RBI double and a groundout from Harry Dunlop.

Tied at five in the seventh, a short rain delay that led to a pitching change helped spark a Douglas rally. Charles Watkins doubled and later in the inning Donald Pulford smashed a two-run homer to give Douglas the lead for good. Charles Watkins followed in the eighth with a three-run shot of his own, sealing Tucson’s fate. Pulford had a day to remember, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, a homer, and three runs scored, earning Game MVP honors. Watkins added two hits, including the homer, and drove in three.

Douglas starter Howard Morse pitched a complete game, allowing 10 hits but just three earned runs, improving to 5–1. Tucson’s bullpen faltered, with reliever Richard Floberg taking the loss after surrendering Pulford’s homer.

Jose Cesar led Tucson’s offense with three hits and two runs, while August Niklas added two doubles. Despite their efforts, Tucson couldn’t hang with division leading Douglas for all 9 innings, who improved to 22–5 on the season and is comfortably in 1st place. Tucson fell to 10-17 on the season, sitting in last place in the standings

By Konrad Kisch

Chihuahua capitalized early and held off Mexicali 5–2, Mexicali had several chances to even the score late but could not come through.

Chihuahua jumped ahead in the first, scoring two runs thanks to an RBI double by Humberto Barbon and a double later in the inning from Mario Garcia. Mexicali cut the lead in half in the second with a solo homer by Heriberto Vargas. In the fourth, Chihuahua padded its lead with two more runs — Ezequiel Lopez grounded out to bring in one, and Marte De Alejandro reached on an error that allowed another run to score.

Barbon drove in his second run of the night in the sixth with a single, extending the Chihuahua lead to 5–1. He finished with 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs.

Mexicali’s Jose Medrano launched a solo shot in the eighth to make it 5–2 and later added a single, going 3-for-3 with two walks. Despite loading the bases in both the eighth and ninth, Mexicali couldn’t capitalize, leaving many men in scoring position throughout the night.

Chihuahua starter Marte De Alejandro (3–2) went 8.1 strong innings, striking out seven and was named Player of the Game. Castulo Madera picked up his first save of the season. Mexicali’s Francisco Cirimele filled up the zone and went the distance but took the loss (4–3), allowing 10 hits and four earned runs over nine innings, striking out only 1.

Both teams committed three errors in a game marked by early offense and late-inning tension. With the win, Chihuahua (13–13) jumped ahead of Mexicali (12–14) in the Arizona-Mexico League standings as we near the end of the first month of the season.

By Konrad Kisch

Cd. Juarez Walks Off Nogales 5–3, with a Hernandez Blast.

Cd. Juarez claimed a 5–3 win over Nogales on May 26, 1958, thanks to an exciting two-run homer from catcher Humberto Hernandez in the 9th.

The home team struck early as Pedro Ramirez belted a solo home run in the 1st. They added two more in the 3rd, with RBI singles from Alfredo Cisneros and Jorge Narvaez. Nogales tied it in the 4th after Tomas Martell doubled and scored on a Gregorio Figueroa single, followed by a two-run double from pitcher Rafael Fabela.

Neither starting pitcher had their best stuff today, as they both issued 5 free passes to opposing hitters. However, they both remained competitive and worked deep into the ballgame. Luis Donoso of Cd. Juarez worked eight innings with nine strikeouts, scattering 8 hits and stranding runners in scoring position in seemingly every inning. While Rafael Fabela gave Nogales seven solid frames before turning it over to the bullpen.

After several innings in a deadlock, the teams headed into the bottom of the 9th. Narvaez singled and Hernandez followed by launching a 379-foot homer to left-center, ending the game in walk-off fashion. It was his third home run of the season and earned him Game MVP honors.

Ramiro Cuevas (1–1) took the win in relief, while Ricardo Galindo (0–1) suffered the loss. Nogales shortstop Jose Bustamante had three hits, and Martell reached base four times in the losing effort. With the win, Cd. Juarez improved to (11–14) and took sole position of 4th place in the standings, while Nogales dropped to (10–15) and fell to 5th. Both teams will return to action the next two nights, looking to finish their 3 game series.