Cebu IX stops Dumaguete

MANILA, Philippines - Cebu scored six runs in the sixth inning as it stopped Dumaguete Uni-bikers, 8-3, while Manila routed Alabang, 14-4, to force a three-way tie for the lead in Baseball Philippines Series 9 at the Parade Grounds in Clark Field, Pampanga yesterday.

Miggy Corcuera and Ram Alipio sparked Cebu’s decisive scoring binge in the sixth then the Dolphins held on to pound out the victory and join their victims and the three-time defending champion Sharks on top of the six-team field after the morning matches.

In the other game, the Taguig Patriots defeated the Batangas Bulls, 9-4, to tie the Bulls at 2-3 in the league organized by Community Sports Inc. and sponsored by Gatorade, Emperador Light, Clark Development Corp., Harbour Centre, Philippine Transmarine Corp., Summit Water and Eagle Sky Inc.

After the Uni-bikers broke the scoreless deadlock at the top of the sixth, Corcuera tied the game on a sacrifice fly, scoring Joennard Pareja, who reached first on an error, second on a sacrifice bunt by Johndel Tolosa, and third on a passed ball.

With Joseph Orillana drawing a walk earlier, Alipio blasted a two-run double to score Orillana and Santos for a 3-1 lead. The Dolphins then added three more runs to pull away.

The Patriots used a series of two-run binges in the first, second, fifth and sixth innings to defeat the Bulls. Danric Cartotivo put the game out of reach in the fifth with a two-run single for a 7-0 lead midway in the contest.

Meanwhile, Manila and Dumaguete were disputing the lead at presstime with Cebu trying to foil a surging Taguig side.

The event is backed by Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association and the Philippine Umpires Association.

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