Eguia lifts Bulls past Unibikers

MANILA, Philippines - Ericson Eguia hit a three-run home run as the Batangas Bulls beat the Dumaguete Unibikers, 6-1, yesterday to seize the solo lead in the Baseball Philippines Series 5 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Eguia slammed a four-bagger to right field off Dumaguete hurler Justin Payongayong, bringing home national players Vio Roxas and Junifer Pinero in a four-run binge by the Bulls in the fourth inning.

The Bulls, winners of Series III of the league organized by Community Sports Inc., have now swept their first four games to take the solo lead after erstwhile undefeated Manila Sharks bowed to the Alabang Tigers, 3-5, in the second game.

“We are not pressured right now but I know our next games will be tougher,” Batangas team manager Randy Dizer said.

The Unibikers, the Series IV runner-up, led after Joeboy De Mesa scored on an error by Batangas starting pitcher Randy De Leon in the second inning.

But Pinero singled home Hashim Umandac in the fourth frame to tie the game before Eguia came through with that homer.

De Leon gave up a hit and a run in six innings before turning over the reins to Ericson’s younger brother Vladimyr, who threw 27 pitches of relief in the last three innings, yielding only two hits.

Alabang, the former Muntinlupa Mariners, scored its first win in the tournament after Welvin Vispo came through with a two-run single in the fourth inning.

Alabang starting pitcher Roel Baclay gave up two runs and seven hits after six innings while national player Roel Batuto relieved Baclay and yielded a run and two hits.