Sharks trip tough Taguig Patriots

MANILA, Philippines – The Manila Sharks leaned on a late-inning scoring spree as they edged the tough Forward Taguig Patriots, 9-6, yesterday at the start of the Baseball Philippines Series 5 at the Rizal Memorial baseball stadium.

RP team mainstay Francis Candella completed a three-run eighth inning with a two-out, bases-loaded, two-run double off losing pitcher Fernando Badrina.

Charlie Labrador, pitching in for starter Joseph Albindo in the fifth frame, fanned out all three batters he faced in the last inning for the Sharks, who finished with a disappointing 3-7 record in Series 4.

Taguig’s defeat overshadowed a strong effort by RP team mainstay Ernesto Binarao.

The 30-year old hurler out of Zamboanga City gave up four hits in four innings before he was rested after tossing 74 pitches.

A new ruling for this tournament sponsored by Gatorade, Industrial Enterprises Inc., Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc., Harbour Centre and the Heritage Park allows a hurler a maximum of 75 pitches before he can pitch the next game.

But Binarao also had a big day at the plate as he made four RBIs (runs-batted-in) off three hits, including a two-run double in the top of the seventh for Taguig’s last lead, 6-5.

Manila, though, tied the game in the bottom half of the said inning when Nino Tator hit a one-run double in the seventh frame that drove home Galedo to tie the contest.

From there, the Sharks managed to overtake the Patriots in the next frame when Badrina walked Galedo with the bases-loaded to score catcher Rommel Roja from third before Candella made his key hit to beat the Patriots.

Earlier, Philippine Sports Commissioner chairman chairman Harry Angping and Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco joined other invited guests in tossing out the ceremonial first pitch during a simple opening rites.