Petco Park to host Mexican Baseball League game this summer

SAN DIEGO - Mexican League baseball action is coming to San Diego's Petco Park this summer. The Tijuana Toros will host the Mexico City Diablos Rojos for a regular-season game on Sunday, August 3, approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of the 1:10 p.m. Padres game against the Atlanta Braves. Admittance to the Mexican League game will be included with a ticket to that day's Padres game. Representatives from the Padres and Toros were joined by Toros players Eduardo Arredondo, Abel Martínez and Héctor Hernández for the announcement today on the field at Petco Park. 

"We are proud to bring Mexican League baseball back to Petco Park for all of the passionate baseball fans in the San Diego/Baja California region," said Tom Seidler of the Padres ownership group. "We look forward to building a significant regional partnership, and creating cross-border initiatives that make a positive community impact."

"On behalf of the Toros of Tijuana, we would like to extend a special thanks to the San Diego Padres for opening the doors of Petco Park to us all," said Blanca Uribe of the Toros ownership group. "We hope this game is seen as a symbol of union between our communities, San Diego and Tijuana."

"All of us at the Diablos Rojos are very happy to return to play at Petco Park, now in an official game of the Mexican Baseball League and closer to the Padres with the addition of our president, Alfredo Harp, to the Padres ownership group," said Diablos Rojos General Manager Jorge Alum. "It will be a great event for all baseball fans, especially for the Mexican fans living on both sides of the border, and we are hopeful that this will be the beginning of many games that Diablos will play at Petco Park."

The Padres wrap up a six-game homestand featuring series against the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves on August 3. The second game of the Sunday doubleheader will be the final game of a weekend series between the Toros and the Diablos Rojos, with the first two scheduled to be played Friday and Saturday at Estadio Gasmart in Tijuana, home of the Toros. This marks the second time Petco Park has hosted a Mexican Baseball League regular-season game. On June 11, 2006, the Tijuana Potros defeated the Mexico City Diablos Rojos 4-0 following an afternoon Padres game against the then-Florida Marlins.

2014 is the Tijuana Toros' first season in the Mexican Baseball League. Managed by Matias Carrillo, who played for the Milwaukee Brewers (1991) and Florida Marlins (1993-94), the Toros' roster includes former Major League Baseball players Russell Branyan and Jose Contreras. The Toros are owned by Alberto Uribe, owner of the Gasmart chain in Baja California.

With 15 Mexican Baseball League championships, the Mexico City Diablos Rojos is the most successful team in League history. Owned by Alfredo Harp Helú, a member of the Padres ownership group, the Diablos are managed by former Padres catcher Miguel Ojeda.