1994, un año sensacional para Diablos Rojos
México, D.F. (Tomás Morales) 22 de septiembre.- Fue en 1994 cuando hizo su aparición don Alfredo Harp con los Diablos Rojos del México, equipo que llamó a una conferencia de prensa y de la que se esperaba alguna nueva contratación. Fue un día muy importante, ya que ase anunció que don Alfredo Harp, José Marrón y otros compañeros del famoso Banco Bananex llegaban a los Diablos como parte de una sociedad con Roberto Mansur que le daría mayor empuje al equipo.
Antes de la temporada, los Diablos vencieron a Cuba en juego de preparación, pero el día que iba a ser la presentación del equipo se supo la terrible noticia del secuestro de don Alfredo por una banda de criminales. El incidente sacudió al país, ya que era el primer secuestro de una persona muy importante en la nueva era de violencia que comenzaba e iba a convertir el país en uno muy peligroso, con criminales desalmados dispuestos a todo.
La mayoría pensamos que el secuestro de don Alfredo iba a durar poco tiempo, pero resultó uno muy largo.
Don Alfredo, sin embargo, estuvo presente ya cuando sus Diablos Rojos ganaron los playoffs y luego la serie final en uno de los juegos más emocionantes de la historia, el séptimo y decisivo partido contra los Sultanes de Monterrey en un Parque del Seguro Social que enloqueció como pocas veces cuando sus queridos Rojos le sacaron el juego decisivo de la bolsa a los Sultanes en la octava entrada con aquel doblete productor del emergente Rogelio Cobos, enviado por el manager Marco Antonio Vázquez en el momento clave.
Habiendo visto tantos, pero tantos juegos en el Parque del Seguro Social desde que se inauguró en 1955 hasta que lo dejaron en el año 2000, estoy seguro que no ha habido un juego más emocionante en ese querido diamante como aquel séptimo y decisivo juego de la temporada de 1994 en que los Diablos Rojos vinieron de atrás en la octava entrada.
Tan pronto Rogelio Cobos conectó su doblete inolvidable que le dio la vuelta al marcador en la octava vi como lo aficionados no solo gritaban muy emocionados, sino brincaban de gusto en sus lugares. Igualmente sucedió cuando cayeron los tres últimos outs logrados por el pitcher Francisco Córdoba, que luego tendría sus años triunfales en las Ligas Mayores.
En aquella octava entrada del juego decisivo en 1994 los Sultanes ganaban 3-1 con el zurdo Dennis Powell lanzando y Bernie Tatis inició el ataque de los Diablos con un sencillo, aunque luego cayeron dos outs con rapidez. Homar Rojas mantuvo las esperanzas con un nuevo hit y el "Borrego" Sandoval levantó al público de sus asientos con un doblete por la banda izquierda que empujó la carrera dos para poner el juego 2-3 y dejar corredores en tercera y segunda. Eran las posibles carreras del empate y de la ventaja.
Le tocaba batear al zurdo Roberto Méndez y el manager Marco Antonio Vázquez se decidió por el derecho Rogelio Cobos, quien respondió con el doblete por la raya de primera base donde estaba jugando José Tolentino. Fue una línea candente y la pelota se perdió en el bullpen y anotaron Rojas y Sandoval para poner al frente a los Diablos 4-3.
Le felicidad continuó al llegar a la novena entrada donde Francisco Córdoba, que ya estaba relevando, retiró con cero para que de esa manera los Diablos lograran uno de los campeonatos más sensacionales en la historia del club. El último out fue en un elevado de foul que atrapó el primera base Tommy Gregg. Y comenzó la celebración total y desenfrenada.
Después de padecer de un año tan difícil, don Alfredo y los Diablos recibieron el trofeo de campeones de manos de Pedro Treto Cisneros, el presidente de la Liga Mexicana, el primero de la nueva era de los Rojos y el onceavo en total.
FOTO: El Lic. Treto Cisneros entrega el trofeo a Diablos, dirigidos por Vázquez.(Gtz.)
En esa temporada de 1994 siete bateadores de los Diablos terminaron sobre los mágicos .300: Tommy Gregg con .352, Homar Rojas con .342, Vicente Verdugo en .321, Daniel Fernández con .310, "Borrego" Sandoval para .308, Roberto Méndez en .305, Tatis en un exacto .300. Luis Arredondo bateó .296, con Van Snider en .267 y el gran héroe final, Cobos, en .265.
En el pitcheo los mejores lo fueron Francisco Córdoba con 15-4 y 2.33, Elmer Dessens con 11-4 y 2.04, Roberto "Metralleta" Ramírez con 12-2 y 2.68, el dominicano Manny Hernández en 14-6 y 3.19, Ricardo Rincón como relevo en 2-4 y 3.21.
Antes de la gran final hubo otros dos formidables playoffs, con Diablos ganando en el primero a los Leones de Yucatán por cuatro juegos a uno, el segundo al Águila de Veracruz por barrida de cuatro a cero, por lo que su marca en las series de post temporada fue de 12-4.
En las dos mitades y como súper líder de la Liga Mexicana, el México tuvo un récord estupendo de 82-45 en la zona sur y ganando las dos vueltas.
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