MEXICO CITY (AP) — The mayor of a state capital in southern Mexico has been killed just one week after he took office, officials said Sunday.
Alejandro Arcos was sworn in last Monday as mayor of Chilpancingo, a city so violent that a drug gang openly staged a demonstration, hijacked a government armored car and took police hostage in 2023 to win the release of arrested suspects.
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Supporters of slain Mayor Alejandro Arcos throw flowers during his funeral service, one week after he took office, in Chilpancingo, Guerrero state, Mexico, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alejandrino Gonzalez)
Relatives of slain Mayor Alejandro Arcos cry during his funeral service, one week after he took office, in Chilpancingo, Guerrero state, Mexico, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alejandrino Gonzalez)
Relatives of slain Mayor Alejandro Arcos carry his coffin during his funeral service, one week after he took office, in Chilpancingo, Guerrero state, Mexico, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alejandrino Gonzalez)
Supporters of slain Mayor Alejandro Arcos attend his funeral Mass one week after he took office, in Chilpancingo, Mexico, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alejandrino Gonzalez)
A supporter of slain Mayor Alejandro Arcos prays at the entrance of the municipal building one week after he took office in Chilpancingo, Mexico, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alejandrino Gonzalez)
Supporters of slain Mayor Alejandro Arcos attend his funeral Mass one week after he took office, in Chilpancingo, Mexico, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alejandrino Gonzalez)
Supporters of slain Mayor Alejandro Arcos place candles and flowers at the entrance of the municipal building one week after he took office in Chilpancingo, Mexico, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alejandrino Gonzalez)
Chilpancingo is the capital of Guerrero state, where Acapulco is located.
The state prosecutors’ office issued a statement Sunday confirming Arcos had been killed, but provided no details.
Alejandro Moreno, the national leader of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, lamented Arcos' killing and said the newly installed secretary of the city council had also been murdered three days earlier.
“They had been in office less than a week,” Moreno wrote on his social media accounts. “They were young and honest public servants who were seeking progress for their community.”
Chilpancingo has long been the scene of bloody turf battles between two drug gangs, the Ardillos and the Tlacos. The battle has resulted in dozens of gruesome killings and some high-profile scandals.
A previous mayor was caught on video apparently holding a meeting with leaders of one of the gangs at a restaurant. She was subsequently expelled from her party.
In July 2023, federal officials said a demonstration held by hundreds of people in Chilpancingo that month had been organized by the Ardillos gang to win the release of two gang leaders arrested for drugs and weapons possession.
The demonstrators largely blocked all traffic on the highway between Mexico City and Acapulco for two days, battled security forces and commandeered a police armored truck and used it to ram down the gates of the state legislature building.
The demonstrators abducted 10 members of the state police and National Guard, as well as three state and federal officials, and held them hostage to enforce their demands before releasing them.
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Supporters of slain Mayor Alejandro Arcos throw flowers during his funeral service, one week after he took office, in Chilpancingo, Guerrero state, Mexico, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alejandrino Gonzalez)
Relatives of slain Mayor Alejandro Arcos cry during his funeral service, one week after he took office, in Chilpancingo, Guerrero state, Mexico, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alejandrino Gonzalez)
Relatives of slain Mayor Alejandro Arcos carry his coffin during his funeral service, one week after he took office, in Chilpancingo, Guerrero state, Mexico, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alejandrino Gonzalez)
Supporters of slain Mayor Alejandro Arcos attend his funeral Mass one week after he took office, in Chilpancingo, Mexico, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alejandrino Gonzalez)
A supporter of slain Mayor Alejandro Arcos prays at the entrance of the municipal building one week after he took office in Chilpancingo, Mexico, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alejandrino Gonzalez)
Supporters of slain Mayor Alejandro Arcos attend his funeral Mass one week after he took office, in Chilpancingo, Mexico, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alejandrino Gonzalez)
Supporters of slain Mayor Alejandro Arcos place candles and flowers at the entrance of the municipal building one week after he took office in Chilpancingo, Mexico, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alejandrino Gonzalez)
CLEVELAND (AP) — Kerry Carpenter hit a three-run homer off Cleveland's All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase in the ninth inning, and the Detroit Tigers stunned the Guardians 3-0 in Game 2 on Monday to even their AL Division Series at one game apiece.
Carpenter connected for a 423-foot shot with two outs off Clase, who had not given up a run since Aug. 30 and led the American League with 47 saves.
Detroit ace Tarik Skubal pitched seven shutout innings, increasing his postseason total to 13, before the Tigers put together a rare big inning against the almost unhittable Clase.
The intimidating right-hander has dominated hitters all season — he hasn't blown a save since May — and was making just his second multi-inning appearance of 2024.
Jake Rogers singled and Trey Sweeney hit consecutive two-out singles. Carpenter, who entered an inning earlier as a pinch-hitter, turned on Clase's third straight slider, sending the ball into the right-field seats and shocking Cleveland's rowdy home crowd.
“How about those three two-out hits?” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt didn't regret using Clase for more than one inning.
“Emmanuel has been locked down all year,” Vogt said. "He’s been nearly perfect. He’s human, too. These things are going to happen, and it’s unfortunate the timing of when it did, but at the same time he’s going to have the ball in the ninth again.
“This is the best closer in the game for a reason, and they just happened to get him tonight.”
The homer drove in the first runs of the series for the Tigers, who have been finding ways to win for months. Detroit went 31-13 after Aug. 11 to qualify for the postseason and then stunned the AL West champion Houston Astros in the Wild Card Series.
They're at it again and head home to Comerica Park for Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday and Thursday with a chance to advance.
After Skubal pitched seven innings and winner Will Vest got through the eighth, Beau Brieske pitched a perfect ninth for the save.
Skubal, who won the AL pitching triple crown by leading the league in wins (18), ERA (2.39) and strikeouts (288), allowed just three hits. The left-hander dominated the Guardians over the first 4 1/3 innings, striking out eight before Josh Naylor doubled with one out in the fifth for Cleveland's first hit. Skubal then hit rookie Jhonkensy Noel on the left hand.
But the 27-year-old Skubal, who has never pitched a complete game, got Andrés Giménez to bounce into an inning-ending double play and celebrated loudly as he left the mound and headed toward Detroit's dugout.
Cleveland also threatened in the sixth.
No. 9 hitter Brayan Rocchio doubled with one out and Kwan singled. Rocchio was held at third, and Skubal again got out of trouble as Detroit's infield turned a nifty 6-4-3 double play, prompting the lefty to raise his hands and ask the crowd for more applause like a conductor pushing his orchestra for volume.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Guardians: Utilityman Tyler Freeman was replaced on the ALDS roster after straining an oblique while taking a swing in a simulated game on Sunday. Freeman, who was replaced by rookie Ángel Martínez, was probably going to be in the lineup for Game 2. He batted .385 against Detroit this season and knows Skubal well after facing him in the minors.
UP NEXT
Guardians RHP Alex Cobb will make his first start since Sept. 1 in Game 3. He's been sidelined with a middle finger blister and only made three starts after coming over in a July trade from San Francisco. He'll be pitching in the postseason for the first time since Game 3 of the ALDS in 2013 for Tampa Bay.
Detroit manager A.J. Hinch had not announced his starter.
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Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Matthew Boyd tips his cap to the crowd as he walks off the field after being taken out of the game in the fifth inning during Game 2 of baseball's AL Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Detroit Tigers' Parker Meadows (22) walks back to the dugout after striking out in the fourth inning during Game 2 of baseball's AL Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Cleveland. Guardians catcher Austin Hedges is at right. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Matthew Boyd shouts as he walks off the mound in the fourth inning during Game 2 of baseball's AL Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio, right, prepares to tag out Detroit Tigers' Justyn-Henry Malloy (44) as Malloy attempts to stretch a single into a double in the fifth inning during Game 2 of baseball's AL Division Series, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Detroit Tigers' outfielders Riley Greene, left, Wendell Perez, center, and Parker Meadows, right, celebrate after the Tigers defeated the Guardians in Game 2 of baseball's AL Division Series, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Cleveland Guardians' Steven Kwan watches his single in the sixth inning during Game 2 of baseball's AL Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians' Tim Herrin pitches in the seventh inning during Game 2 of baseball's AL Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians' Brayan Rocchio gestures from second base after hitting a double in the sixth inning during Game 2 of baseball's AL Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Cleveland Guardians' Cade Smith pitches in the fifth inning during Game 2 of baseball's AL Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Cleveland Guardians' Austin Hedges, right, reacts after striking out in the third inning during Game 2 of baseball's AL Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Cleveland. Tigers catcher Jake Rogers is at left. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Cleveland Guardians' Josh Naylor doubles in the fifth inning during Game 2 of baseball's AL Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal gestures after a double play ends the sixth inning during Game 2 of baseball's AL Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Detroit Tigers' Kerry Carpenter celebrates as he runs the bases with a three-run home run in the ninth inning during Game 2 of baseball's AL Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
