MANILA - The Manila Sharks are going to the Baseball Philippines Championship Series.
Joseph Alvindo and Romeo Jasmin combined to pitch a three-hitter and the Manila Sharks took advantage of eight Marikina errors to upstage the Shoemakers, 9-3 for the Sharks' ninth straight win and a berth in the Baseball Philippines Championship Series.
The North Division champion Sharks open the best-of-three BPCS on Wednesday against the South Division champion Cebu Dolphins.
Manila teed off quickly on Marikina spot starter Randy De Leon after skipper Randy Dizer held back ace left-hander Vladimir Eguia in hopes the Shoemakers would force a game 2 the following day.
Christian Galledo opened the game with a single, advanced to third on catcher Jose Jose's throwing error, and scored one out later on Edward Landicho's grounder that was misplayed by third baseman Matt Laurel. Marvin Malig followed with a drive to center field which Miggy Zuluaga booted for the third error of the inning to put runners in scoring position. Jose's passed ball brought Landicho home. After Larry Icban drew a walk, Bambol Servo blooped a run-scoring single to score Malig and the Sharks had a 3-0 lead.
Marikina got one run back in the second on Stefano Baltao's rbi-groundout.
Manila padded its lead in the bottom of the second. Galledo singled with one out, advanced to third on Elcid Angeles' single, and scored on Jose's fielding error. Landicho then walked and Malig followed with an rbi-groundout to make it 5-1.
The Sharks chased De Leon in the third when Jarus Inobio drew a lead-off walk and forced Dizer to bring in Eguia.
It was to no avail as Eguia was touched for a pair of runs in the next frame. Galledo opened the fourth with a walk, stole second and scored his third run of the game on Angeles' rbi-single. One out later, Malig sent a shot which first baseman Alvin Santos bobbled, moving Angeles to third. Icban's run-scoring single gave Manila what would become an insurmountable 7-1 cushion.
The Sharks would add insult to injury with two more in the sixth. With two outs, Eguia hit Malig with a pitch. Icban followed with a grounder to third which Laurel threw errantly allowing Malig to score. Servo's second rbi-single of the game drove home Icban and Manila was cruising, 9-1.
The Shoemakers pushed across two harmless runs on a walk and three Sharks errors in the ninth for the final tally.
Alvindo started for Manila and gave up one run on two hits, walked four, and struck out three in 4 2/3 innings. Jasmin went 4 1/3 innings, gave up one hit, two runs, both unearned, walked two, and struck out six.
De Leon lasted two-plus innings, was tagged for five runs, none earned, on four hits and three walks. Eguia pitched five innings in relief, surrendered three hits, four runs, one earned, walked three, and struck out three. Ramil Placides tossed a scoreless eighth inning for the Shoemakers.
| Sat, Dec 15, 2007 | ||||||||||||
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Marikina | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| Manila | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 4 |
| WP: Jasmin (4-1) LP: DeLeonR (1-2) | ||||||||||||