Dolphins, Bulls gain semifinal

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Batangas scored three runs in the pivotal eighth inning to turn back Alabang, 12-9, yesterday and clinch a semifinal berth in the Dunkin’ Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI at the Felino Marcelino Baseball Stadium in Taguig City.

Vio Roxas struck a two-run single while Chris Canlas hit an RBI single as the Bulls shattered a 9-all count at the bottom of the eighth en route to victory, their third in four games to match the record of first semifinalist the Manila Sharks.

Romeo Jasmin, Teddy Landicho and Jose Miguel San Juan singled to start off the eighth before Roxas hit one of his five RBIs of the game with a grounder to left field off Alabang losing pitcher Aries Oruga, scoring Jasmin and Landicho. Canlas then singled home San Juan.

Cebu, meanwhile, joined Batangas and Manila on top of the heap as it fashioned out a 12-4 rout over Pampanga in the second game.

Jonash Ponce belted a three-run home run in the first inning then the Dolphins poured it all out in the seventh with six runs to pull away and annex their third win against a loss.

The Bulls actually went through some anxious moments in the ninth as Jasmin issued two walks to load the bases. But the MVP in Series V of the league, presented by Dunkin Donuts and organized by Community Sports Inc., frustrated the Tigers as he struck out Richie Sararia to close out the match.

Jasmin issued nine hits in seven innings in relief and will not play against Cebu today after throwing 103 pitches, way above the 50-pitch limit.

Batangas, however, still needs to prevail over Cebu at the close of the elims today to notch the twice-to-beat advantage in the semis.

“If we play like this against Cebu, I don’t think we could win,” said Batangas team manager Randy Dizer, referring to his wards’ performance against the Tigers. “They played relaxed because they thought this game would be easy.”

Batangas gave up five runs in the fifth, enabling Alabang to surge to an 8-6 lead. Kevin Cruz brought home Aries Oruga after he walked and stole second base before Cruz scored on a single by Adrian Bernardo. Carlos Laurel reached first on a fielder’s error then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Brother Matt Laurel hit a double to left field to score Carlos Laurel and Bernardo.

But the Bulls countered with three runs in the sixth as Roxas hit a two-run single after Jasmin singled and Landicho walked. San Juan, who went to first after getting hit by a pitch, also scored in that play on an Alabang error.

The Tigers, however, tied the game in the seventh with a single by Matt Laurel, sending home Bobby Siatong, who singled and stole second base.

The Bulls made a fine start with five runs in the first two innings behind a three-run home run by Justin Zialcita in the first and sacrifice flies by San Jose and Roxas in the second.