Cafecito Martínez y Henderson Álvarez le dan el título a los Leones
Monterrey, N.L. (www.lmb.com.mx / César Patricio Queijeiro Castro) 19 de septiembre de 2022.- Los Leones de Yucatán se coronaron por quinta vez en su historia gracias a lo hecho por dos venezolanos: Henderson Álvarez y José ‘Cafecito’ Martínez. Los melenudos edición 2022 se unen a las glorias de 1957, 1984,
Monterrey, N.L. (www.lmb.com.mx / César Patricio Queijeiro Castro) 19 de septiembre de 2022.- Los Leones de Yucatán se coronaron por quinta vez en su historia gracias a lo hecho por dos venezolanos: Henderson Álvarez y José ‘Cafecito’ Martínez. Los melenudos edición 2022 se unen a las glorias de 1957, 1984, 2006 y 2018.1 para dejar atrás dos derrotas consecutivas en Serie del Rey. Los comandados por Roberto Vizcarra derrotaron 6-1 a los Sultanes de Monterrey en el Estadio Mobil Super para coronarse tras siete enfrentamientos. El ‘Chapo’ manejó a Yucatán en 2018, por lo que suma su segunda Copa Zaachila con los peninsulares.
Originario de Valencia, Venezuela, Henderson Álvarez III continuó con su gran labor monticular. En el Juego 3 de la actual Serie del Rey presentada por G500 ya había lanzado 7.2 entradas en las que no permitió carreras y se sumaron los 8.0 episodios de una carrera y siete imparables del Juego 7 para ser nombrado por la prensa especializada el Jugador Más Valioso de la Serie del Rey 2022.
A menos de 200 kilómetros al Este, en La Guaira, y menos de dos años atrás, nació el otro héroe venezolano de los melenudos: el ‘Cafecito’ Martínez, quien sólo había producido una carrera en los duelos por el título, se destapó para remolcar cinco carreras en el juego del quinto título en la historia de los Leones.
La vida ya había juntado al ‘Cafecito’ Martínez y a Henderson Álvarez en 2013-2014 y 2017-2018 con los Tiburones de La Guaira en su país natal y el beisbol los volvió a unir este año en la Península de Yucatán para llenar de júbilo a una afición amante de la pelota.
Era el amanecer del juego y que mejor que un ‘Cafecito’ para despertar. José Martínez produjo la carrera de la quiniela con un doblete que llevó a Norberto Obeso a la registradora. El daño pudo ser mayor: con casa llena y dos outs Yohander Méndez dominó a Sebastián Valle con un ponche.
Las alarmas se encendieron de inmediato. Henderson Álvarez se resintió tras un pelotazo luego de un rodado de Ramiro Peña.
En el quinto rollo se repitió la fórmula: el ‘Cafecito’ impulsó a Obeso pero en esa ocasión con un sencillo. Roberto Kelly usó la grúa para el ingreso de Jake Sánchez al último tercio de la quinta entrada.
La afición de Leones de Yucatán estuvo apoyando en bleachers del jardín izquierdo al ritmo de las percusiones para animar a los suyos. Se topaban con pared al escuchar la rechifla del público local que enmudecía ante las serpentinas de Henderson Álvarez.
Justo debajo de los melenudos se ubicaba Zoilo Almonte que en la sexta alta atrapó sobre la barda la pelota tras un potente batazo de Sebastián Valle. En la parte baja, Cristhian Adames, con una pincelada en las paradas cortas, evitó el daño de los regiomontanos para ponerle punto final al segundo tercio del juego.
El ‘Cafecito’ se convirtió en un ‘Señor Café’ con el mejor aroma de todo el país con un cuadrangular por el jardín izquierdo para tres rayitas más. 5-0 y todas producidas por Don José Martínez. Finalizó con noche de 4-3, sus cinco remolcadas, su palo de vuelta entera, un doble y una carrera anotada.
Henderson Álvarez salió para la novena entrada, pero Zoilo Almonte lo saludó con un vuelacercas solitario que lo mandó a las regaderas luego de una soberbia actuación de 8.0 entradas de una carreras y siete imparables, no otorgó boletos, recetó tres chocolates y realizó en total 102 lanzamientos, 71 de ellos fueron strikes.
Con este título, Leones llega a cinco e iguala a Tecolotes como quinto club con más gallardetes. Roberto Vizcarra escala en los libros de records como tercer manager con más títulos en la LMB al llegar a cuatro (2013, 2015, 2018.1 y 2022) solo por debajo de Lázaro Salazar y Benjamín ‘Cananea’ Reyes.
P.G. Henderson Álvarez (2-0, 0.57)
P.P. Yohander Méndez (1-1, 2.45)
HR: YUC José Martínez (1), Walter Ibarra (1); MTY Zoilo Almonte (2)
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