Roxas' slam caps Bulls fightback

MANILA, Philippines - Vio Roxas hit a grand slam home run in Batangas’ big seven-run binge in the eighth inning as the Bulls defeated the Manila Sharks, 9-3, yesterday in a duel of unbeaten teams in the Dunkin’ Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VII at the Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium in Taguig City.

Roxas slammed Series VI Most Valuable Player Jon Jon Robles’ pitch across the left field fence to cap the Bulls’ mightly comeback from a 1-3 deficit and into their fourth victory in the league presented by Dunkin’ Donuts.

Manila, which dropped to 3-1, kept the lead into the eighth after Francis Candela belted a two-run home run in the fifth inning and Jarus Inobio scored on a passed ball in the sixth before that decisive Batangas splurge.

Despite the loss, the Sharks are assured of their stint in the semis, along with the Bulls, with the last two spots to be disputed by Cebu and Alabang, which both tote 2-3 cards and Quezon City and Taguig, which tote identical 1-3 marks.

Earlier, Alabang pounced on an erratic Quezon City side and posted a 12-2 victory in eight innings to revive its semifinal hopes in the league organized by Community Sports, Inc.

Matt Laurel hit a solo home run, Carlos Laurel had a three RBIs and the Tigers cashed in on the Angels’ nine errors to fashion out the win and finish the regular season with a 2-3 win-loss mark.

Alabang thus tied Cebu at third at the close of their elims assignment.

Matt Laurel blasted a homer to right field on the second pitch of Quezon City starter Joey Gozo to start off a four-run binge by Tigers in the second inning.

Starting pitcher Ryan Alwert and Kelly Culubong then scored on a fielding error by Quezon City first baseman Rizel Santos on a Carlos Laurel at-bat. Carlos Laurel scored on a groundout by Bocboc Bernardo before Jay Laurel, Matt’s brother, reached home on an Adrian Bernardo base hit.

It was Quezon City’s second straight loss as it dropped to 1-3, putting the Angels in a must-win situation against the Manila Sharks on Saturday to stay in the semis race.

The Angels, who lost to Cebu, 2-9, at Rizal ballpark last Saturday, kept it to within two runs, 2-4, on a Santos and Jake Ilao run in the second and third frames. But Matt Laurel and Paolo Mallari reached home on errors in the fifth and sixth inning, respectively.

Carlos Laurel made a run-scoring single and a sacrifice fly in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively, as the Tigers scored three runs each in the seventh and eighth innings for the victory.

Alwert pitched six innings and allowed two runs and six hits while Adrian Bernardo and Carlos Muñoz took turns in the seventh and eighth innings to keep the Angels’ offense in check.

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