Sharks repeat over Patriots; Dolphins win

MANILA, Philippines - Manila leaned on its superb pitching again as it repeated over Taguig, 10-0, for its second win in as many days in Baseball Philippines Series 8 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium yesterday.

The Sharks gave up only three hits while peppering the Patriots with 16 of their own to essay another romp after fashioning out an 11-3 rout in Saturday’s opener of the league organized by Community Sports, Inc.

Unlike the first time, however, the defending back-to-back champions needed only seven innings to wrap up the match for the early lead in the season-opening conference sponsored by Gatorade and Rawlings.

Warren Vispo, Jon Jon Robles and Roy Baclay baffled Taguig with their solid pitching, allowing the Patriots to reach only as far as second base.

Vispo yielded two hits while striking out five batters while the lefty Robles fanned two in a no-hit two innings relief job. Baclay gave up a hit in the seventh inning when the outcome was already beyond doubt.

Manila blasted Patriots starter Darwin Dela Calzada with 11 hits while Niño Tator and Junifer Pinero came through with two RBIs each to give the Sharks a commanding lead.

“I think our preparation against Taguig was the key. Warren gave us a lift when he started and the guys gave Darwin a lot of hits because we expected him to start,” said Manila coach Jhoel Palanog.

Cebu spoiled the comebacking Dumaguete Uni-bikers as it opened its campaign with a 5-3 victory in the second game of the league backed by Harbour Centre, The Heritage Park, Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Philippine Olympic Committee, PSC, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association, Philippine Umpires Association and DZSR Sports Radio 918.

Jonash Ponce had two RBIs in his return to action to Cebu after missing most of Series 7 due to injury as the Dolphins wound up with 10 hits en route to victory.

Fielding woes also haunted the Patriots early as Francis Candela, Jennard Pareja and Tator scored on a passed ball, catching error and wild pitch, respectively, in the first inning.

Tator hit an RBI single while Pinero slammed a two-run single in Manila’s four-run binge in the fifth frame. Tator added another RBI with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning before Jarus Inobio and Fernando Badrina had run-scoring hits that led to a 10-run lead in the seventh.

Taguig had no answer from that big Manila onslaught with the Patriots mustering just a single by Mick Natividad in the first, and doubles by Richard Siacor and Francis Gahuman in the second and seventh inning, respectively.