Tigers beat Patriots at home
Santos is congratulated by Manila defense for hitting his 2nd homerun of the game. (Photo - courtesy of owner)ALABANG - There's no place like home.
The Alabang Tigers used their home-field advantage to the full extent to beat the Forward Taguig Patriots, 3-2, and claim a share of the lead in the Dunkin' Donuts Baseball Phillippines Series 6.
Capitalizing on the sloppy fielding by the Patriots, the Tigers gained the lead in the sixth then survived a late threat by the road team to escape with the victory.
Thus, the Muntinlupa-based batters forged a three-way tie for first place at 2-1 with the Manila Sharks and the Cebu Dolphins.
The loss dropped the Patriots to 1-3 and put them in danger of missing the semifinals for the second straight tournament.
Alabang broke a scoreless tie in the sixth when Bernard Siaotong, who singled earlier, scored from third on a passed ball by pitcher Darwin dela Calzada then Gian Llaguno reached first on a throwing error by Christian de Leon before coming off a throwing error by first baseman Ronald Bocalan.
Taguig cut the lead in half as designated hitter Jeffrey Hardillo smashed a solo homer with two outs in the top of the seventh frame.
Adrian Bernardo, who came over in the fifth inning, put the Tigers back up by two with an RBI single to score Jay Laurel in the eighth frame only for the Patriots to threaten anew in the ninth as Hardillo hit an RBI single to right that pulled home Jay Moral, who earlier reached base on an error by leftfielder Kelly Culubong.
Saxon Omandac safe at 3rd. (Photo - courtesy of owner) Taguig had a chance to tie the game with Siacor on second and Hardillo at first but Aries Oruga, who pitched the whole game, struck out de Leon on three pitches to secure the win.
Oruga, coming off a freshman campaign with the National University Bulldogs in the UAAP, made seven strikeouts and allowed just three hits despite the Alabang fielders making four errors.
The Tanauan City-born Oruga won a pitching duel with veteran RP team lefty Darwin dela Calzada, who likewise tossed a no-relief effort.
Dela Calzada became the first pitcher in recent memory to toss 10 strikeouts in a game but failed to get the run support and the consistent defensive effort to earn the victory.
The Tigers won for the second time in three games held at home since the league began to hold games in this field located inside the exclusive Ayala Alabang Village last year.
The previous win also came against the Patriots, a 19-13 win on May 24, 2009 that saw brothers Matt and Jay Laurel hitting a league-record three homers each and 13 round-trippers overall.