Brawley native pitcher Jake Sanchez has broken a game saving record after reaching 24 Wednesday evening.

Sanchez, also known as Jake Mate, has saved 70 games in the Mexican Pacific League, Aguilas de Mexicali Baseball Club said.

On Wednesday, Sanchez saved the second of the three-game series after his team defeated Naranjeros de Hermosillo 9-7. The game also turned the eighteenth save against the Sonoran club.

The Imperial Valley native first joined the Mexicali team in 2015. The next year, when Aguilas became league champion and Caribbean Series runner-up Sanchez saved 21 games.

Later, the pitcher had to go on Tommy John surgery. Through a combination of nutritious food and sports ethics the player was able to overcome the injury and become a successful pitcher in Mexico’s both winter and summer leagues.

This year the season has been the best in Sanchez’s career, becoming the fifth pitcher with the largest saved games in the league after Isidro Marquez, David Cardenas, Hector Heredia and Oscar Villarreal. Days ago, Sanchez was named for the third time as the league’s Pitcher of the Week.

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