Games Today
(Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium)

7 a.m. Manila vs Taguig
10:30 a.m. Alabang vs Batangas
2 p.m. Dumaguete vs Cebu

    The Manila Sharks leaned on an late-inning scoring spree as they edged the
tough Forward Taguig Patriots, 9-6, Saturday 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 when
he hit a two-out, bases-loaded, two-run double off losing pitcher Fernando
Badrina to send Jarus Inobio and Christian Galedo home.

     Charlie Labrador, pitching in for starter Joseph Albindo in the fifth
frame, fanned out all three batters he faced in the last inning as the Sharks
began their quest of rebounding from a disappointing 3-7 record in Series 4 on a
high note.

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

	The 30-year old hurler out of Zamboanga City gave up only two runs off 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 was enforced allowing a maximum of 75 pitches in order to 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 Commission 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.

Popularity: 6% [?]