GAMEDAY RECAP

Forward Survive Shaky Defense to Hold Off Uni-bikers

Forward 6, Uni-bikers 5

MANILA - One week ago, the Forward Taguig and Dumaguete Uni-bikers had no offense to speak of as both teams combined to score one run on five hits in suffering lopsided Opening Day losses. Yesterday, however, one run made all the difference.

Hashim Omandac atoned for a costly first inning error with a two-out run-scoring single in the second inning that put the Forward ahead to stay and Ernesto Binarao kept them in the driver's seat by going the distance as Taguig earned its first win of the season with a thrilling error-filled 6-5 win over Dumaguete at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

After being unable to mix up his pitches when he was thrust into an unexpected relief appearance on Opening Day with his team trailing from the gate, the left-handed Binarao found himself in his usual starter's role when he took the mound on Sunday.

Unfortunately the Uni-bikers got their offense going in the first inning when they touched Binarao for two hits and a potential inning-ending grounder that Omandac threw away to set-up Edmer Del Socorro's two-run single for an early 2-0 lead.

The Forward responded with their own two-out rally in the second inning when Jeffrey Hardillo roped a two-run double to left field off Dumaguete starter Lito Pulgo to tie the game.

After Omandac had given Taguig the lead, the Forward added two more runs in the fifth on Denver Largo's throwing error and Rizel Santos' rbi-groundout after Hardillo and Alejandro Velasquez opened the inning with back-to-back singles.

Binarao retired 15 of the next 17 hitters after the first inning, digging into his four-pitch arsenal and throwing his curveball in particular for strikes. But he would run into trouble come the sixth inning.

With two outs, Del Socorro reached on Evert Balderrama's throwing error. Romar Landicho followed with a single and Darwin Dela Calzada drew a walk. Pinch-hitter Christopher Dela Cerna then delivered a two-run single to cut the deficit to 5-4.

Santos then doubled home what turned out to be an insurance run for the Forward in the seventh.

"Medyo nahirapan ako pagkatapos ng 'fifth [inning]'. Hindi ko [kontrolado mabuti] ang mga puhol dahil basa ang bola (I had some difficulty from the fifth inning onwards because I had trouble with my command given that the ball was wet)," said Binarao who, despite laboring in the latter innings, nonetheless escaped further damage in the sixth and had to weave out of another two-on, one-out jam in the seventh after giving up an rbi-groundout.

Dumaguete failed to take advantage of another Taguig miscue in the eighth before Binarao retired the side in order in the ninth to seal the win.

"Maraming error. Hindi maganda laro ng depensa. Buti na lang at nakabawi ako sa puhol (Many errors. The defense wasn't sharp. I was fortunate to make-up [for the errors] when I got back on the mound)," added Binarao after the Forward committed an unsightly five errors behind him. Dumaguete, which last week committed seven errors, had only one miscue this time, but failed to capitalize on Taguig's lapses.

Pulgo — Dumaguete's player-manager — was saddled with the loss. He gave up three runs on four hits in four innings, walked five and struck out a pair. Darwin Dela Calzada rebounded from last week's shelling, went five innings in relief and gave up three runs — one earned — on three hits, two walks, and a strikeout.

Binarao surrendered eight hits, walked two, and struck out nine in the complete game effort to earn the win.

 

 

GAMEDAY

BP COVERAGE - WEEK 2

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