Saucedo, Diablos Rojos advance

Robert Saucedo homered and drove in six runs Friday as the Diablos Rojos del Mexico crushed the Olmecas de Tabasco, 15-6, in the decisive seventh game of their Mexican League first-round playoff series.

Saucedo went 4-for-4 with three runs scored. The 31-year-old designated hitter belted a three-run shot in the third inning, stroked RBI singles in the fourth and fifth and hit a run-scoring double in the seventh.

Carlos Valencia went 3-for-5 with four RBIs and Daniel Fornes cranked a solo homer as part of a 17-hit attack for the Diablos Rojos (4-3), who took the last three games to advance. They will face the Leones de Yucatan in the semifinals.

Mexico starter Victor Alvarez (1-0) got the win after giving up four runs -- two earned -- on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts over seven innings.

Carlos Sievers had three hits and three RBIs and Jorge Guzman slugged a two-run homer for the Olmecas (3-4).

Tabasco starter Vinicio Gonzalez (0-1) surrendered seven runs on eight hits and a walk with three strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings.