Bulls get back at Tigers; Dolphins stop Sharks

MANILA, Philippines - Batangas exacted revenge over Alabang as the Bulls beat the Tigers, 14-6, yesterday in Baseball Philippines Series 8 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Starting pitcher Vladi Eguia struck out eight while yielding three hits in six innings and Vio Roxas turned in four-RBIs for the Bulls, who blew an eight-run lead and dropped a 9-11 loss to the Tigers last April 17 in the league organized by Community Sports Inc. and sponsored by Gatorade and Rawlings.

Cebu exploded with five runs in the sixth inning as the Dolphins dealt the Manila Sharks their first loss with a 9-7 victory in the other game.

Elmer Del Socorro and Jonash Ponce came through with two-run base hits in the sixth, giving the Dolphins their second win in as many games while dropping the Sharks, who swept the Taguig Patriots in two games two weeks ago, to 2-1.

Del Socorro pushed Ramil Magno and Fongs Rances home with a base hit to right field off Jon Jon Robles while Ponce grounded to left field to score Joseph Orillana and Del Socorro. Ponce scored on a passed ball on the following at-bat.

Batangas scored six runs in the fifth and sixth frames as Roxas hit three RBIs in that stretch while Bulls’ relievers Randy De Leon and Romeo Jasmin preserved the victory by fanning out the rest of the Alabang batters.

Batangas coach Randy Dizer also credited the Bulls’ youthful players including SJ San Juan, who went on board on Roxas’ run-scoring hits, and Charles Catangui, who had three RBIs in the game.