Manila wards off Dumaguete, shares lead in baseball series

MANILA, Philippines - Warren Vispo hit a game-tying homer and Jarus Inobio drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as Manila pulled off a 10-8 victory over Dumaguete for a share of the lead with Cebu in Baseball Philippines Series 9 at the Parade Grounds in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga Sunday.

After Tawi delos Reyes walked and stole second, the three-time defending champion Sharks tied the game at eight when Vispo blasted a 2-0 pitch by Kevin Reyes across the left field fence.

The Sharks then wrested the lead as Inobio singled home Levi Ibaan and Francis Gesmundo advanced home on a throwing error. Ibaan had earlier pinch ran for Edward Landicho after a single and Gesmundo walked to pave the way for Manila’s come-from-behind victory.

Gesmundo preserved the win by fanning out the next three batters after a single by Tsuyoshi Horibata.

It was the Sharks’ fifth win in a row and sixth overall against two losses, later matched by the Dolphins, who trounced the Taguig Patriots, 11-4.

Dumaguete took its third loss against five wins as it dropped to third in the event 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.

The Uni-bikers surged to an 8-3 lead at the top of the fifth after scoring four runs on two hits backed by an RBI single by Karl Peralta and a two-run single by Arvin Plaza. But the Sharks countered with three runs to close the gap.

Ramil Magno and Joseph Orillana had key hits to spark a four-run binge in the third inning as the Dolphins grabbed a 4-0 lead. Cebu also added two runs each in the fourth and fifth inning before putting the game away with three runs in the eighth.

The Alabang Tigers defeated the Batangas Bulls, 10-3, to improve their record to fourth with a 3-5 card.

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

For details, log on to www.baseballphilippines.com and www.facebook.com/baseballphilippines.