Sharks bully Pilgrims

Francis Candella motors home on Nino Tator's rbi-single in the first inning with the only run the Manila Sharks would need. (Photo - Jerome Cruz)

Sharks 10, Pilgrims 0

MANILA - The Manila Sharks got a strong showing from their pitching staff while their offense made it a hit-parade to seal the top spot in Baseball Philippines Series 3 after 10-0, seven-inning victory over the Antipolo Pilgrims last Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Starting pitcher Mick Natividad and reliever Joey Sta Maria combined to allow just a three-hitter as the Sharks sent the Pilgrims to their fifth straight setback while setting their sights on the semifinals.

Natividad, a 20-year Commerce student out of National University, recorded three strikeouts, walked none, and retired 16 of the 19 batters he faced in an effortless five-inning duty while the southpaw Sta Maria of Rizal Technological University finished off the Pilgrims with two easy innings to get their 10^th victory in 11 outings.

"Dapat three innings ko lang siya ipapasok pero maganda nilaro ni Mick sa laro kaya tumagal siya (I was supposed to let him pitch for three innings, but Mick had a good game so I kept him in longer)", said Sharks manager Jhoel Palanog.

National team mainstays Nino Tator connected on three hits and two runs-batted-in (RBI) while veterans Joey Guerrero and Francis Candela made two contrasting home runs late to seal the game that was abbreviated because of a 10-run mercy rule.

Tator helped the Sharks get the first run of the midday contest on a hit to right field that pushed home Candela in the first inning. He scored another runner in one of four runs tallied in the fifth frame by pulling Jarus Inobio from second base on a base-hit to left.

Manila then finished off Antipolo in the last two innings as Guerrero smacked one into left-center for a two-run inside-the-park homer in the sixth inning that made it a 9-0 advantage before Candela crushed a solo four-bagger off 15-year old reliever Carlo Conge to settle the final count.

Acquired from the Makati Mariners prior to the start of the tournament, Candela made two hits in three at-bats and reached home three times in the contest. Bumagat and another RP mainstay, catcher Rommel Roja each tallied a pair of hits.

Pending the possible resumption of their suspended May 25 game against the Dumaguete Uni-Bikers, the Sharks take a long break after gaining a bye before heading into the semis against the winner of the first round playoff between the fourth and fifth place teams.

Pilgrims’ starting pitcher Saxon Omandac struggled against the Sharks, allowing six runs and seven hits in six innings of work as Antipolo fell to a 3-8 win-loss record but is already assured of a spot in the playoffs as the sixth-ranked team.

BOXSCORE

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