Sultanes take Game 1 of Finals

Luis Garcia and Mendy Lopez homered as Monterrey rallied to edge visiting Yucatan, 5-4, to take Game 1 of the Mexican League Championship Series on Tuesday.

The Sultanes came back from a four-run deficit to take the lead for good with two runs in the sixth. Lopez led off the frame with a solo homer against starter Oscar Rivera. Ignacio Flores (0-1) came in and yielded a double to Benji Gil before Ramon Orantes' sacrifice drove in Gil from second.

Garcia clubbed a two-run blast in the fourth for the Sultanes.

The Monterrey bullpen allowed one hit over the final five scoreless frames after reliever Alfredo Garcia gave up a grand slam to Raul Sanchez in the fourth.

Gaudencio Aguirre (1-0) recorded six outs with two strikeouts, but left after giving up a leadoff single in the seventh. Felix Heredia got pinch-hitter Said Gutierrez to line into a 4-3 double-play in the seventh before Maximo De La Rosa retired the side in order in the ninth to capture his sixth save.

Sultanes starter Francisco Campos injured his elbow and left the game prior to the second. The right-hander won both his playoff starts for Monterrey.

Rivera was charged with four runs on three hits with six strikeouts and six walks in five-plus innings.

The start of the game was delayed two hours due to rain.