DOLPHINS PROVE TOO BIG A FISH TO CATCH FOR MARINERS
With sole possession of 2nd place on the line, the Cebu Dolphins opted not to take any chances with the struggling Mariners.
In a rematch of the two finalists from Baseball Philippines Series I, the Cebu Dolphins managed to just edge-out their bitter rivals. In a game that went down to the wire, the Dolphins kept their nerve and relied once again on their ace pitcher, and reigning MVP, Joseph Orillana to help pull out a victory.
This time around, there were no gambles in Cebu’s part, as to who was going to be the starting pitcher against Makati. Coach Saki Bacarisas went with Orillana – a statement that said that they were not underestimating the Mariners, despite Makati’s 0-6 win-loss record. As far as Cebu was concerned, 2nd place was on the line. As well as the opportunity for revenge.
Makati had beaten the Cebu Dolphins to the BP Series I title last year, behind some stellar pitching by Jon Jon Robles. Many have said that Makati won that game in part to the fact that Cebu had gambled with starting Ha Seun Jun, instead of Orillana. Irregardless of what decision should have been made back then, this time around, Cebu made the right one.
Orillana was his usual dominant self, keeping the Mariners bats silent for the first 5 innings. Makati had managed only 3 hits in the first 5 innings, none of which led to any runs. Within that time frame, Cebu took a 2 run lead in the top of the 2nd inning through RBI singles by Richard “Goma” Gomez and Jeffrey Ardio.
However, in the bottom of the 6th inning, the Makati Mariners cut the Dolphin’s lead into half. With Sandy Cerillo now pitching in relief of Orillana, Alden Lozada then hit a 2-out double to give Makati a runner in scoring position. Song Chun Wang then hit a clutch RBI single up the middle which cut Cebu’s lead into half.
With the Mariners now only trailing by 1 run, Cebu managed to load up the bases at the top of the 7th inning through Goma’s second single of the game, a base hit by Jonard Pareha, and an intentional walk to the ever dangerous Miggy Corcuera. With 2 outs and an opportunity to build a commanding lead, Coach Saki Bacarisas opted to bring out Joel Binarao to pinch hit for Bacchus Ledesma – who had been struggling all game at the plate because of back spasms. With Roy Baclay now on the mound pitching in relief for the outstanding Carlos Borromeo, Joel Binarao ripped the second pitch he got over the left-center field wall, for a grand slam homerun – the first in the league this season. The Dolphins took a commanding 5 run lead as a result.
The game was nowhere near over yet.
With Cebu leading the game 6-1, Makati responded by exploding for 5 runs at the bottom half of the 7th. Roy Baclay led the inning off by drawing a walk. A string of five straight hits, instigated by a double from Jerby Diego, singles from Jake Cumlat, Mark Castillo, and Lozada, then capped by an RBI double from Song, allowed Makati to tie the game at 6 runs apiece. Makati was finally retired when Carlos Borromeo flew out to left-field to end the inning.
With the game now tied at 6, at the top of the 9th inning with 2 out, Corcuera hit a 2 RBI single to bring in Jeffrey Ardio and Edsel Atienza, who were at 2nd and 3rd, to give Cebu back the lead.
In the bottom half of the inning, with Makati having a runner on first with two outs, Orillana, who had come back to the mound to try to close out the game, got Song to fly out to 1st base to end the game – and give Cebu a firm hold on 2nd place.