MAZATLÁN, SINALOA. Powered by a three-homer attack and flawless relief pitching, the Tomateros de Culiacán Baseball Club earned a 4-3 victory over the Venados de Mazatlán at Estadio Teodoro Mariscal, securing their first win of the 2026-2027 Liga Mexicana del Pacífico Banamex season.
The Guinda offensive spark arrived in the fourth inning through the power of Jon Singleton, who punished opposing pitching with a solo home run to deep right-center field to cut into the deficit. In the sixth frame, the long ball paid off once again as Luis Roberto Verdugo launched a towering home run to tie the game at two.
Lorenzo Bundy’s squad leveled the score in the top of the seventh inning following a patiently crafted play: Ichiro Cano drew a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Poncho Ruiz, and reached third on a single by JP Martínez. Right after, Fabricio Macías delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to bring Cano home for Culiacán's third run.
In the eighth frame, Orlando Martínez provided the decisive blast with a solo home run, putting Culiacán ahead for good with a 4-3 score.
Right-hander Norge Ruiz made the start, working five complete innings, while the Guinda bullpen proved unhittable by stringing together consecutive scoreless frames to quiet the home crowd. David Gutiérrez worked the sixth, Robert Gsellman earned the win with a perfect seventh inning where he retired all three batters he faced, Sasagi Sánchez secured the hold in the eighth, and Seth Shuman shut the door in the ninth to record the save and lock down the victory.
After a successful season debut in the port city, Tomateros de Culiacán head back home to host the Venados this Thursday, October 15 at Estadio Tomateros, where the grand home opening ceremony will be celebrated before the Nación Guinda.