Pericos Eliminate Diablos, Deny Three-Peat in LMB Playoffs
Pericos de Puebla defeated Diablos Rojos 3-0 in Game 6 to win the series 4-2. The loss ends Diablos' bid for a third consecutive championship, which would have been the first since 1949. Puebla advances to the South Zone Championship Series.
The decisive game unfolded at Alfredo Harp Helú, where Puebla struck in the third inning. Samar Leyva singled, Herlis Rodríguez delivered a run-scoring triple, and Sergio Alcántara followed with another hit to make it 2-0. A fifth-inning error by Jon Singleton allowed Lorenzo Cedrola to reach third and score on a wild pitch from reliever Nick Vespi, extending the lead to 3-0.
Puebla starter Antonio Santos and the bullpen silenced a Diablos offense that had exploded for 26 runs and 38 hits across Games 4 and 5. Mexico left runners in scoring position in the sixth and seventh innings, then went down in order in the ninth. The loss ends Diablos' bid to become the LMB's first three-peat champion since Monterrey's run from 1947 to 1949.
This result could reshape the LMB's competitive narrative, denying the league its first three-peat in over seven decades and validating Puebla's postseason resilience. Fans in Puebla may see renewed enthusiasm for the franchise, while Mexico City supporters face the end of a dominant era. The series may also influence how teams approach playoff roster construction, particularly bullpen depth and late-game execution, as close margins proved decisive throughout.