MANILA, Philippines - Expansion squad Pampanga earned its first-ever win in a big way, upsetting erstwhile solo leader Manila, 7-5, yesterday in the Dunkin’ Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI at the Alabang Country Club in Muntinlupa.
Rizel Santos blasted two home runs, including a fifth-inning three-run homer that ignited their rally from a 0-4 deficit.
Homegrown pitchers Julius Liwanag and Henry Laxamana, barely in his 20s, pitched solidly, helping the Sharks pull off a first win in four outings.
“It was a breakout win,” said Pampanga coach Bogs Nanquil. “They showed that even if they are from the province, they can win here in Manila.”
Manila lost the game while resting key players Charlie Labrador and Jon Jon Robles.
Santos hammered a solo home run to left field off Manila reliever Saxon Omandac in the fourth to start things going for Pampanga.
In the fifth, Michael Pandaqui started with a two-run single after Armando Vinuya’s own single followed by walks by Andro Cuyugan and Ernesto Binarao.
With Binarao at second and Pandaqui at first, Santos blasted the three-run homer that gave Pampanga a 6-4 lead.
Pampanga stretched it to 7-4 on the sixth on a bases-loaded walk by Binarao.
Liwanag issued three runs and four hits while the left-handed Laxamana yielded a run in five hits against the more experienced batters of Manila.
“They are our local pitchers and I think this is the first time they showed their stuff,” said Nanquil, whose team faces another tough assignment today in defending champion Batangas.
Manila attempted a comeback when Ricardo Jimenez grounded to center field with two outs to score Mike Gante.
With Francis Candela at third after a walk and Jimenez at first, Pampanga right fielder Jeffrey Ardio shifted position with Laxamana and the former La Salle pitcher forced a flyout to Nino Tator to end the game.
Gante started for Manila allowing one run in four innings but Omandac and Natividad struggled in their relief effort.
In the second game, Alabang notched its second win beating Taguig, 3-2.
With the win, the Tigers joined Manila and Cebu on top of the standings at 2-1.
The linescore:
Manila 101 200 001 5 10 0
Pampanga 000 151 00x 7 7 2
Taguig 000 000 101 2 3 4
Alabang 000 020 10x 3 6 4