MANILA, Philippines - The Batangas Bulls completed an amazing 10-game sweep of the classification round by repeating over the Cebu Dolphins, 8-3, in Baseball Philippines Series 5 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium yesterday.
Hurler Romeo Jasmin and catcher Jose Jose hit a pair of RBI singles to highlight Batangas’ four-run binge in the opening frame as the Bulls pounced on the undermanned Dolphins’ erratic game to fashion out the 10th straight victory.
Batangas, which won the Series 3 crown of the league organized by Community Sports Inc. last year, thus gained the twice-to-beat edge in the semis against the winner of the one-game playoff between the third-placed team and the fifth-ranked squad.
But team manager Randy Dizer is far from satisfied.
“We’re happy that we swept the classification round but our task is not yet done, our goal is to win the championship,” said Dizer.
Jasmin sparked the scoring spree with a single off losing pitcher Jeffrey Ardio to score leadoff runner Teddy Landicho. Then Jose sent home fellow UP teammate Jojo Apura to make it a 4-0 lead in the first inning.
The Dolphins, who showed up minus three national team members, also made five errors in the game.
In the other game, the Manila Sharks survived the Dumaguete Uni-Bikers, 8-7, and moved a win away from claiming the other outright semis slot.
The Sharks, who improved to 6-3, go for the clincher against the Dolphins, who slid to 4-4, at resumption of their suspended 9-all game after 11 innings next week.