Puebla vs Campeche

Campeche struck first in the top of the second when Andrew Stevenson sent a solo home run to left field off Puebla starter Antonio Santos, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead with two outs. It was Stevenson's first homer of the postseason.

Puebla answered immediately in the bottom half. Michael De La Cruz singled and Samir Leyva reached base before Herlis Rodríguez delivered a two-out, two-run single to right field. Leyva scored on a head-first slide just ahead of the throw, and De La Cruz came around behind him to put Puebla up 2-1.

Samir Leyva extended the lead in the fourth inning with a solo home run to left field off Campeche reliever Trey Miller, making it 3-1. The Parakeets added another in the seventh as Herlis Rodríguez stroked an RBI double, scoring De La Cruz again. Rodríguez then stole third and came home on a throwing error by catcher Francisco Flores, pushing the lead to 5-1.

Campeche clawed back when a Francisco Flores RBI single in the seventh cut it to 5-2, but Puebla's eighth-inning outburst ended any hopes of a comeback.

Leading 5-2 entering the bottom of the eighth, Puebla sent 10 batters to the plate. Sergio Alcántara doubled home one run, Henry Ramos doubled home another, and Luis Castro cleared the bases with a two-run double. By the time the dust settled, Puebla had scored five runs on five hits and one Campeche error, taking a 10-2 advantage.

Campeche scored two consolation runs in the ninth on a two-run single by Heber Fabela, but Silvino Bracho struck out the final batter to end the game.

The game hinged on Puebla's five-run eighth inning. What had been a manageable 5-2 deficit for Campeche became an insurmountable eight-run hole. The rally was fuelled by four doubles — from Alcántara, Ramos, Rodríguez and Castro — as Puebla's bats punished a tiring Campeche bullpen. Reliever Dalton Thompson was charged with four runs (one earned) in just 0.2 innings.

• Herlis Rodríguez (Puebla): 4-for-5 with a double, 2 RBI and 3 stolen bases. The catalyst at the top of the order, Rodríguez reached base four times and created runs with his legs.
• Samir Leyva (Puebla): 2-for-4 with a solo home run (his second of the playoffs), an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. His fourth-inning homer extended Puebla's lead at a critical juncture.
• Luis Castro (Puebla): 3-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI. His two-run double in the eighth was the knockout blow.
• Antonio Santos (Puebla): Winning pitcher. Santos went 5.0 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits with 6 strikeouts and 0 walks. He settled after Stevenson's early homer to keep Campeche off the board for four straight innings.

Player of the Match: Herlis Rodríguez (Puebla)

Puebla outhit Campeche 15-8, but the distribution tells the story. Eight of Puebla's 15 hits went for extra bases (five doubles, one home run, two others), while Campeche managed only two extra-base hits (Stevenson's homer and Almonte's double). Puebla stole four bases without being caught — Rodríguez had three alone — reflecting an aggressive approach that kept Campeche's catchers under pressure all night. The home side also drew four walks against Campeche's six strikeouts, controlling the strike zone in key moments.

Campeche's pitching staff issued five walks and hit one batter in the decisive eighth inning alone, while Puebla's bullpen (Bracho, Cordero and the rest) combined for 4.0 scoreless innings after Santos departed.

Puebla (Pericos) win the First Playoff series 4-1 and advance to the Zona Series (Zone Series), the second round of the LMB Banorte 2026 playoffs. The Pericos entered the postseason as the higher seed and backed it up with an emphatic series-clinching performance at home. Campeche finish their season after a strong regular-season campaign but could not match Puebla's depth at the plate or on the mound in Games 4 and 5.

Puebla's next opponent in the Zona Series will be determined by the conclusion of the other First Playoff series in the South Zone.

Puebla entered Game 5 needing one win and played like a team that wanted no part of a Game 6. A five-run eighth against a wilting Campeche bullpen turned a competitive series finale into a statement win. Antonio Santos delivered exactly what was asked of him on the mound, and Rodríguez's four-hit night set the tone from the leadoff spot. Campeche's offence never recovered from Stevenson's early solo shot being immediately neutralised.