Servo's walk-off hit knots BPCS

The Dumaguete Uni-bikers mob Bambol Servo off first base after the latter's game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth evened the BPCS. (Photo - Joseph Ventura)

Uni-bikers 4, Bulls 3

MANILA - The Dumaguete Uni-Bikers, behind Bambol Servo’s two-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning, nipped the Batangas Bulls, 4-3, yesterday to force a winner-take-all match in the Baseball Philippines Series 3 championship at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

After blowing a one-run lead in the top of the ninth inning, Servo hit a three-ball, one-strike fastball from losing pitcher Justin Zialcita to score pinch-runner Edward Tuason from third.

Tuason replaced Marlon Caspillo at second base, after the latter hit a one-out double to left. He then reached third after the Bulls failed to turn a double play on a grounder by Denver Largo, setting up Servo’s game-winner.

It was the only hit in five plate appearances for Servo.

"Alam ko [kapag 3-1 count] fastball ang ipupuhol ni Zialcita," Servo said. "Kaya nung yun ang binato niya pinalo ko na."

Today’s deciding game is set at 10:30 a.m. with the winner joining the Makati Mariners and the Cebu Dolphins on the podium since the league was established last year.

The Uni-Bikers were on the verge of pulling off the win in the top of the ninth, but winning pitcher Darwin dela Calzada, who took the hill in the sixth inning, threw a wild pitch that brought home Virgilio Roxas to tie the score, 3-3.

Roxas had reached second on a double and went to third on a Zialcita groundout.

Dumaguete took a one-run lead in the seventh after bagging two runs as Caspillo pulled home Dela Calzada from third before scoring himself when catcher Junifer Pinero bobbled a pitch from reliever Randy De Leon for a passed ball.

The Bulls drew first blood in the second frame as Pinero sent home Zialcita on a one-out single, but the Uni-Bikers tied the match in the bottom half of the fifth frame as Largo stroked an RBI single to left that allowed Andro Cuyugan to scoot home from second.

Lito Pulgo started on the mound for Dumaguete, allowed only one run on five hits in five innings. Dela Calzada pitched the last four innngs and yielded two runs on two hits.

Vladimir Eguia, who pitched six hitless innings for Batangas in game one, gave up one run on three hits and two walks over six innings with five strikeouts. But the Bulls relief pitchers faltered as De Leon was charged with three runs and four hits in 2 1/3 innings while Zialcita served up the game-winner.

BOXSCORE

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