Baseball Philippines: Batangas Bulls grab outright semis berth

MANILA, Philippines - The Batangas Bulls rallied from a three-run deficit to repulse the Manila Sharks, 7-5, for the second straight day to clinch the first outright semifinals berth in Baseball Philippines Series 5 Sunday at the Sto Nino Field in Marikina City. Junifer Pinero hit a game-tying, two-run single before fellow national team member Chris Canlas belted the go-ahead three-run home run to highlight a fiery six-run seventh inning blitz that lifted the Bulls to their eighth straight victory. Manila, which dropped a harrowing 1-17 loss to Batangas the other day, suffered its second straight defeat and fell to 4-3. With one out and a bases-loaded situation, Pinero hit a deep fly ball that bounced off the left field wall to score Carlo Banzon and Vio Roxas as Batangas tied the game at 4. Then, Canlas smashed a first pitch throw by Charlie Labrador, who had no-relief job, that sailed out of the ballpark in right field as the Bulls surged ahead at 7-4. "We knew Manila would burn Labrador so I told the players to be patient," said Batangas team manager Randy Dizer. "It paid off, the hits came when they mattered the most." Labrador, the team's top hurler, threw 99 pitches but gave up 10 hits, six of them came in the last two innings, as the Sharks’ ploy to keep him in the game despite a 75-pitch count rule backfired. Vladimir Eguia, who pitched in relief for starter Romeo Jasmin, allowed a single run in the ninth inning but settled down to strike out Edward Landicho with runners on first and second to cap the comeback. Tigers triumphant Over at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium, the Alabang Tigers also battled back from four runs down to upset the Cebu Dolphins, 8-7, behind a three-run binge in the ninth frame. Veteran Jot Angeles tied the game at 7 on a two-run single before Gian Llaguno scored off a fielding error by third baseman Miggy Corcuera for the go-ahead run. It was the Tigers’ second win in eight games to remain in fifth place while the Dolphins dropped to 4-2 but remained in solo second. In the other game, the Forward Taguig Patriots finally entered the win column after losing their first seven games, defeating the Dumaguete Uni-Bikers, 9-6. -GMANews.TV