GAMEDAY RECAP

Darwin's Theory: Uni-bikers Continue Evolution Behind Dela Calzada

Uni-bikers 4, Shoemakers 1

MANILA - Charles Darwin conceptualized natual selection as one of the cornestones of modern biology. His theory described the evolutionary process by which favorable traits become more common over less favorable traits over successive generations resulting in adaptation.

On Sunday, the Dumaguete Uni-bikers encapsulated that theory and continued to evolve as a team after winning their third straight game at the expense of the Marikina Shoemakers, 4-1, behind ace Darwin Dela Calzada's left arm.

The southpaw pitched masterfully in weaving a complete-game five-hitter, allowing just one run while striking out a season-high eleven and giving up just two walks.

The win completed a two-game season sweep of the Shoemakers who last week dropped a 6-2 decision to Dela Calzada and the Uni-bikers as well. Both teams will not meet again this year unless each wins its respective division title for the right to play in the Baseball Philippines Championship Series in mid-December.

As with their recent success, the Uni-bikers scored early and drew first blood yet again.

Table-setters Denver Largo and Andro Cuyugan, who entered the contest in a combined 5-for-32 slump with three runs scored between them, opened the game by greeting Marikina starter Vladimir Eguia with back-to-back singles and one out later scored on Francisco Ramos' two-run single to give Dumaguete a quick 2-0 lead.

The Uni-bikers pushed across two more runs with the aid of the Shoemakers' shaky defense in the third inning. Cuyugan reached on a one-out single, stole second, and scored on Edmer Del Socorro's rbi-single. Del Socorro then moved to second on Eguia's fielding error and with two outs scored on third baseman Matt Laurel's throwing error to give Dumaguete a four-run cushion.

Eguia, who could not make it out of the seventh inning against these same Uni-bikers last weekend, was done after three innings. He allowed all four runs on six hits and struck out four. The left-hander has allowed 13 hits and nine runs, six earned, over 9 1/3 innings against Dumaguete. In 30 innings against the four other teams, Eguia has given up just six runs, one earned, on 20 hits.

That would be more than enough with the way Dela Calzada was mowing down the Shoemakers.

"Na-off ko yung timing nila at maganda galaw ng downball ko. Nakatama rin sila ng maganda, ngunit naipit rin ang mga runners (I was able to disrupt the timing of their hitters and my [curveball] had good movement. Although they were still hitting the ball well, they still left runners [in scoring position]," said Dela Calzada.

Marikina could not get the timely hits it needed, leaving runners in scoring position in the fifth, seventh, eighth, and ninth innings.

The Shoemakers scored its only run off Dela Calzada in the fifth inning. Ericson Eguia, Vladimir's elder brother, tripled and scored on Joseph Apura's rbi-single.

Marikina's Roel Batuto pitched for the first time this season when he relieved Eguia to start the fourth inning. He tossed six scoreless innings, gave up just three hits, struck out two, and did not walk a batter. The right-hander and projected ace for Marikina had been in the line-up primarily for his bat.

 

 

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BP COVERAGE - WEEK 6

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