Sharks edge Dolphins, wrest solo lead

Sharks edge Dolphins, wrest solo lead

Standings (Win-Loss)
Manila 2 0
Alabang 1 0
Cebu 1 1
Batangas 1 1
Pampanga 0 1
Taguig 0 2

Games today
9 a.m. – Alabang vs. Cebu
1:30 p.m. –
Pampanga vs. Taguig

Bambol Servo came through with a crucial hit in the ninth inning to score Francis
Candela as Manila pulled off a thrilling 8-7 squeaker over Cebu to wrest the
solo lead in the Dunkin’ Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium yesterday.

Servo, a former mainstay of the defunct Dumaguete Unibikers, came in as a pinch-hitter in the ninth and sent Cebu starter Joseph Orillana’s 130th pitch to deep left field to score second baseman Candela from first base.

The game looked headed for an extended inning when Orillana issued flyouts to catcher
Rommel Roja and left fielder Jarus Inobio but Candela struck a single to left
field before Servo’s game-winning hit in the tournament presented by Dunkin’
Donuts and organized by Community Sports Inc.

“We were lucky,” said Manila coach Joel Palanog. “We know that Cebu won’t give up that
easily so it’s a good thing that the veterans were there until the end.”

The Sharks actually surged to a 6-2 lead in the sixth frame but reliever Jon Jon Robles sputtered on the mound, his first at home since playing professionally in the Czech
Republic.

Lorenzo Ubungen singled in the seventh, reached second on a stolen base and third on a Jonash Ponce single before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Miggy Corcuera.

After a double by Florencio Ubungen, RP Blu Boy Mark Rae Ramirez hit a three-run home
run across the right field fence and out of the stadium to tie the game at 6.

The Sharks then took a 7-6 lead in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Marvin Malig, scoring Christian Galedo. But the Dolphins tied the game again as Ponce blasted another four-bagger to the left field bleachers.

The tournament is sponsored by Gatorade, Industrial Enterprises Inc., Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc., Harbour Centre, The Heritage Park with the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association, Philippine Umpires Association and DZSR Sports Radio 918 as partners.

Manila wrested the lead with four runs in the second inning after Cebu scored two runs in the
first inning. The Sharks added two more in the sixth on a Mike Gante RBI single
before scoring home on two Cebu errors.

Manila starter Charlie Labrador allowed two runs in three hits in 85 pitches while Robles yielded five runs on seven hits on 57 pitches. Orillana, for his part, gave up eight runs in 10 hits in a no-relief job for Cebu.

In the first game, defending champion Batangas bounced back from its opening day loss by routing Taguig, 15-7.

The Bulls put five runs on the board in the fourth, keyed in by a two-run double by Randy De Leon.

Batangas, which lost its opening game against Manila, 5-4, also pounced on the sloppy defense by Taguig, which had 10 errors.

Linescores:
Batangas 002 502 051 15 15 3
Taguig 200 020 210 7 13 10

Cebu 200 000 401 7 10 4
Manila 040 002 011 8 10 4