MANILA, Philippines - Cebu used a strong start to seize control then blanked Dumaguete in the last two innings to hack out a 7-6 decision and gain the solo lead in Baseball Philippines Series 9 at the Parade Grounds in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.
The Dolphins peppered Tsuyoshi Horibata with hits in the first two innings, scoring two and three, respectively, then scored two more runs in the bottom fifth before hurler Lorenzo Ubungen frustrated the Uni-bikers in the last two frames to clinch the victory.
Dumaguete rallied to within one after scoring six runs in a four-inning stretch from the fourth.
Cebu thus moved on top with a 10-3 record while Dumaguete dropped to 9-4, enabling Manila to gain ground at 8-5 with a 10-0 of Taguig and tightening up the battle for the other twice-to-beat edge in the semis heading to the final week of the elims in the league organized by Community Sports Inc.
The Patriots fell to 3-10.
Meanwhile, Alabang clinched the last semifinal berth with a 15-7 victory over Batangas in the other game.
Cebu was playing Taguig in the afternoon match, going for no less than the No. 1 spot in the semis while Dumaguete was battling it out with Batangas and Manila taking on Alabang.
The league is sponsored by Gatorade, Emperador Light, Clark Development Corp., Harbour Centre, Philippine Transmarine Corp., Summit Water and Eagle Sky Inc. with the backing of Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association and the Philippine Umpires Association.
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