Forward Taguig leaned on the versatile Ernesto Binarao’s heroics as it turned back Muntinlupa, 10-7, yesterday to seize the solo lead and inch closer to the semifinals in Baseball Philippines’ Series IV at the Rizal Baseball Stadium.
Binarao yielded four hits and four runs in four innings and batted in four runs in a nine-run splurge in the first two innings as the Patriots sealed a sixth straight win in seven games.
It proved enough for Forward Taguig to surge past Series II champion Cebu, which fell to Series III titlist Batangas in a 4-3 decision that was halted twice by rains.
Youthful Bulls pitcher Vladimir Eguia allowed eight hits and three runs in nine complete innings but the Dolphins’ Joseph Orillana was worse as southpaw MVP of last year yielded eight hits and one more run than the former as Batangas sealed a second straight triumph and third overall against four setbacks.
The Dolphins absorbed their second loss against six victories and would try what it failed to accomplish yesterday by going for an outright semifinal berth-clinching win over the Bulls at 7 a.m. today.