June 1944 in the Mexican Ballgame
San Luis keep keeping on with a 13-12 June. This drop in form allows a 13-10 Jaguars to creep one game closer than they were one month ago. Jaguars second baseman Gabriel Barrón gets his hitting streak snapped at 21 games, just 7 games short of breaking the record set by Oscar Valladolid in 1938. Roberto Mestre allows 9 runs in 3 games, while teammate Leovigildo Esparza lowers his ERA to 2.04 on the season which means he now leads the league in that category.
Monterrosa first to One Thousand! Loaiza follows suit
Few players have been as consistent since the inception of the league as shortstop Antonio Monterrosa. He was the first Tlatoani of the league, leading the league with 119 hits in his first season. 8 years later, Monterrosa has gotten over 110 hits in 7 seasons and is on pace for another one. The only season he didn't get to the centurion was in 1939, when he missed significant time due to a sprained thumb. On June 14th of the present year, the Aguascalientes shortstop hit his 79th hit of the season, and the 1000th in his illustrious Ullamaliztli career. The Otzolotepec native has been on a slump since getting his 1000th, hitting .115 since June 16th. In his career, Antonio has hit .305/.345/.403, with 185 doubles, 36 triples and 21 homers, winning 4 Teyatloani awards for his outstanding hitting as a shortstop as well as the 1936 championship with Mérida.
Long time Guadalajara second baseman César Loaiza was the second player this month to get his 1,000th hit. In the middle of an 8-game hitting streak and as part of a 2-hit game against Aguascalientes, Loaiza tagged a double for his 1,000th. Since then he's tied Monterrosa's 1,006 at the top of the leaderboard. After 833 career games, the Vallarta keystone has hit .304/.350/.422, with 189 doubles, 19 triples and 55 homers, driving in 435 runs. Loaiza has won 4 Teyatloani award, a Temanahui award as well as the 1936 Newcomer award due to being the best young player in the league's first season.
Hitter of the Month
RF Edwin Esparza - Mérida
The 30 year old hit .343/.411/.566 in 25 games this month, smacking 9 doubles, 2 triples and 3 homers for 18 runs batted in.
Pitcher of the Month
RHP Faustino Campos - San Luis
After collecting his 100th win, Campos started 7 games in June. He had a 5-2 record, with a 1.31 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in 62 innings. "El Triste" struck out 25 batters and walked 13.
Here's how the award races are going so far (by WAR):
Tlatoani Award
CF Alberto Campana - Puebla - .321/.351/.524, 15 2B, 6 3B, 11 HR, 59 RBI
LHP Esteban Ramírez - León - 7-4, 2.72 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 69 K, 31 BB
SS José Serrano - Jaguares - .316/.393/.388, 12 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 40 RBI
C Victor Albornoz - San Luis - .332/.411/.475, 16 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 44 RBI
C Guillermo Meraz - Tampico - .301/.373/.496, 14 2B, 10 HR, 36 RBI
Atlatl Award
LHP Esteban Ramírez - León
LHP Carlos Casillas - Jaguares - 7-6, 2.71 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 66 K, 41 BB
RHP Israel Álvarez - Monterrey - 6-5, 2.72 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 54 K, 29 BB
LHP Leo López - Guadalajara - 6-6, 3.68 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 56 K, 35 BB
LHP Andrés Amaya - Tampico - 6-7, 3.09 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 53 K, 45 BB
Moyaomamachtiani Award
C David Cruz - Guadalajara - .312/.370/.349, 5 2B, 1 HR, 22 RBI
2B José García - Águilas - .281/.303/.404, 12 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 25 RBI
C Ernesto González - Mérida - .261/.374/.352, 8 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 14 RBI
RF Carlos Flores - Águilas - .273/.316/.379, 16 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 25 RBI
3B Jesús Herrera - San Luis - .255/.339/.332, 6 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 33 RBI
End of season report next. Thanks for reading!