GAMEDAY RECAP

Sizzling Sharks Walkoff With Eighth Straight Win

Sharks 6, Mariners 5 (10 inn.)

MANILA - Bacchus Ledesma has had a flair for the dramatic before. It was almost seven years ago when the Manila Sharks' designated hitter hit a game-ending three-run homerun to give his alma mater, De La Salle University, the University Athletics Association of the Philippines baseball crown.

On Saturday, Ledesma just missed a home-run in the bottom of the tenth inning, but instead wound up with a two-out game-winning walk-off single that capped a thrilling Sharks comeback against a stunned Makati Mariners ballclub, 6-5 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The win was Manila's eighth in a row and has the Sharks riding high as they head into the play-offs with the league's best record.

Ledesma had been hand-cuffed all afternoon, going 0-for-5 with a strikeout, by Makati starter Editho Justo before he stepped up to the plate in the tenth with runners in scoring position.

"I missed the homerun by a few inches, but we'll take the win. That walk-off single was sweet," said Ledesma after his Sharks won in extra innings for the fourth time this season, tops in the circuit.

Justo, far-removed from being an ace in his younger years, meanwhile was pitching his best game in recent memory, working on a seven-hitter as he took the mound in the bottom of the ninth with the Mariners nursing a 5-4 lead.

Justo got two quick outs before surrendering back-to-back singles by Edward Landicho and Marvin Malig. Nevertheless, the righty was one-strike away from getting the win when Larry Icban rifled a shot that Mariners shortstop Ace Baquiran fielded but threw wildly to first as Landicho scored the tying run.

The Sharks' comeback nullified what would have been the Mariners' own.

Trailing 4-2 in the seventh, Makati dispatched of Manila reliever Roger Landicho when Francis Candella and Alden Lozada drew one-out walks. After Sherwin Canlas struck out, Mark Castillo ripped a two-out double to pull the Mariners even. Jerby Diego followed with another double to give Makati a one-run lead heading into the fateful ninth.

The Sharks opened the scoring in the first when Christian Galledo led off with a walk and two outs later scored on Mick Natividad's rbi-single. Manila increased its lead to 3-0 in the next frame on Galledo's one-out bases-loaded double.

Makati narrowed the gap in the fourth. Candella reached on third baseman Natividad's error and one out later trotted home with the Mariners' first run on shortstop Galledo's two-base miscue on Canlas' grounder. Haruto Estanislao's run-scoring single cut the Sharks lead to 3-2.

Manila made it 4-2 in its half of the fourth when Rex Bangayan roped a one-out double, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored when Elcid Angeles reached on a fielder's choice.

Justo went the distance for the Mariners as he gave up six runs, four earned, on eleven hits, three walks, and struck out three.

Joseph Alvindo started for Manila, went five effective innings of four-hit ball, gave up two runs, both unearned, walked a pair, and struck out one. Juan Castro pitched for the first time this season and earned the win with 3 1/3 scoreless innings of one-hit ball despite allowing four walks to go with a strikeout in relief of Landicho.

The loss was the Mariners' third straight setback and puts them in the precarious position of having to go the distance by winning six games in the postseason if they are to duplicate their Series 1 campaign.

 

 

GAMEDAY

BP COVERAGE - WEEK 9

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