Dolphins surge ahead, trounce Sharks

Series II champion Cebu leaned on a four-run splurge in the bottom of the third inning as it repulsed Manila, 5-3, yesterday to seize the solo lead in Baseball Philippines’ Series IV at the Rizal Baseball Stadium.

Migs Corcuera blasted a two-run double to centerfield to cap a four-run blitz in the third, then Joseph Orillana and Jerome Bacarisas, who came in for Jeff Ardio, held their ground at the mound as the Dolphins nailed their league-best fourth victory in five games.

Cebu thus swept Manila in their two-game elimination round series following a rain-delayed 7-3 victory Saturday.

“We scored some crucial runs in the third inning, after that it was our pitching and defense that took over,” said Cebu team manager Isaac Bacarisas in Filipino.

The loss was the Sharks’ fifth against a lone win in the league organized by Community Sports Inc. and sponsored by Mizuno, Gatorade, Purefoods TJ Hotdogs, Welcoat Paints, Industrial Enterprises, Inc., Harbour Centre, The Heritage Park and Agility Logistics.

Forward Taguig, meanwhile, unleashed four runs in the bottom ninth, highlighted by catcher Melvin de Castro’s two-run double, as the Patriots squeezed out a come-from-behind 8-7 win over the Series III titlists Batangas Bulls for a 3-1 mark.

The Patriots came a strike and an out away from a loss when De Castro slammed Randy de Leon’s curve ball to the left field to score the pair of game-tying and game-winning runs.