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THE
Makati Mariners opened their title-retention bid on a
dominating note with an abbreviated 10-0 win over
Forward Taguig to start off the Baseball Philippines
Series Two yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Ballpark.
Jon Jon
Robles, last tournament’s Best Pitcher, allowed only two
hits and struck out nine in a match that ended after the
seventh inning because of the 10-run mercy rule.
Robles
also drove in a run with a triple—his only hit of the
game—during a five-run first inning to help the Mariners
post their first win of the tournament.
“Hindi
pa siya umiinit,” said Makati manager Jeffrey
Santiago of Robles, the University Athletic Association
of the Philippines (UAAP) Best Pitcher last season.
EDMER DELSOCORRO of Team
Dumaguete tags out Fulgencio Rances of Cebu during the
Baseball Philippines competition at the Rizal baseball
field in Manila.
--NONIE REYES
Santiago,
also the coach of UAAP defending champion
University of
Santo Tomas,
said he is confident about the chances of the team of
retaining their title. “Kumpleto kami ngayon.
Infield, outfield, offense, pitching, maganda,”
he said.
In the
first game of the tournament supported by Purefoods TJ
Hotdogs, Gatorade, Mizuno Sports, Harbour Centre Inc.
and Industrial Enterprises, Inc., expansion team
Marikina Shoemakers upset last tournament’s third placer
Manila Sharks, 11-5.
A
two-run homer by John Joseph Apura, the first home run
of the series, on a missed signal highlighted a four-run
fourth inning in a romp of the Sharks.
Second
baseman Francis Candela’s double to centerfield scored
third baseman Chris Jimenez, who came onboard on a
single, started scoring for the Mariners at the top of
the first. A triple by first baseman Chun Wang Song off
losing pitcher Roland Bocalan easily drove Candela home
for an early 2-0 advantage.
Then
came Robles, who drilled that triple to right field
pushing Song home. Robles also scored after a single by
centerfielder Alden Lozada on the next at-bat.
After
stealing second, Lozada scored on a throwing error by
Taguig center fielder Julius Bisaya for an early 5-0
lead Taguig never overcame.
After
Makati scored another run in the third inning, Lozada
drilled a three-run home run to right field in the fifth
inning to take a commanding 9-0 advantage.
Taguig
looked to score with a double by catcher Rizel Santos to
lead off the bottom of the fifth. But Robles struck out
the next three batters to end the threat.
Robles
did allow a walk on pinch hitter Oman Samiano (sixth)
and another double by designated hitter Ferdinand Recto
(seventh) but both were stranded. |
