Mariners, 2 others out to stay on top in Baseball IV

Cebu, Forward Taguig and Muntinlupa try to break out of a three-way logjam at the helm when they take on separate rivals today as action in Baseball Philippines’ Series IV resumes following a week-long break at the Rizal Baseball Stadium.

Muntinlupa battles Dumaguete at 7 a.m., Cebu tangles with Manila at 10:30 a.m. while Forward Taguig clashes with Series III titlist Batangas at 2 p.m. Cebu, Taguig and Muntinlupa tote identical 2-1 (win-loss) slates.

The Patriots beat the Sharks, 5-2, to gain a share of the lead with the Dolphins, who dropped a sorry 9-10 defeat to the Unibikers two weeks ago.

The Muntinlupa Mariners actually had a chance to wrest the solo lead but their match with the Batangas Bulls was halted due to darkness with the score tied at 8 after eight innings.

Forward Taguig, behind hurler Ernesto Binarao, swept fancied Manila, runner-up to Series II champion Cebu, in their two-game elimination round series.

Against Manila, Binarao fanned out six batters while yielding five hits in a 5-2 win. He then belted a three-run homer to centerfield in the bottom eighth inning the following day to lift Taguig to a come-from-behind 4-3 triumph and a sweep over Manila.