Binarao stars anew as Patriots sweep Sharks by Jonas Terrado
(Photo - Jayzee Teofisto)Patriots 4, Sharks 3
MANILA - It was a huge weekend indeed - playing-wise - for Ernesto Binarao.
The 30-year old national team member may have taken a one-day rest after an impressive pitching effort last Saturday but came through once more for the Forward Taguig Patriots after a huge three-run homer in the eighth inning to defeat the Manila Sharks anew, 4-3, in Sunday's opening encounter of Baseball Philippines Series 4 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
Playing at centerfield this time around, Binarao also had three hits in four at-bats with four RBI's to show as Taguig won its second straight outing to go to a record of 2-1, tying the Cebu Dolphins and the Muntinlupa Mariners for first place in the team standings.
Fernando Badrina (1-0) pitched a complete game for the Patriots he gave up nine hits but fend off a late charge by the Sharks in the final inning to get the win.
Trailing 3-1 entering the bottom half of the eighth, Christopher Jimenez began with a hit to right field while Ferdinand Recto was issued a walk to put runners on first and second. After Ricardo Jimenez retired on a pop out to Manila shortstop Christian Galedo, Binarao blasted a fastball into center off losing pitcher JB Castro (0-1) to put the Patriots ahead for good.
The blast was the fourth career homer for Binarao, who made his first one in July 8, 2007 when as a player for the now-defunct Negros Roosters hit a four-bagger in their finals loss to the Makati Mariners in Series 1.
Binarao's exploits came a day after he gave up just five hits in a no-relief effort that helped Taguig beat the Sharks, 5-2, in the first game of their weekend series.
The Sharks, however, threatened in the final inning as catcher Rommel Roja hit a double to left before Jarus Inobio reached second on an attempted throw to Roja at third to put runners in scoring position.
But Badrina would settle down as he struck out Castro before retired Dimaculangan on a flyout to left to seal the Patriots victory.
Manila's disappointing defeat was their third straight as the team many expected to contend for the title is now in last place with a 1-3 record as starter Charlie Labrador's five-inning, five strikeout outing went in vain.
Nino Tator led the Sharks with two hits in four at-bats with two RBI's to show. The starting baseman actually drove the first run of the game with a first inning RBI single, scoring Jenald Pareja from second base.
The lead would last a half an inning later when Binarao scored Recto from third on an RBI single to tie the game. Recto started the game with a two-out single before Jimenez drilled a single of his own that sent Recto to third.
After five innings of a pitcher's duel between Badrina and Labrador, Manila's Joseph Albindo smacked a single before reaching third on two consecutive groundouts. And from there, Tator swung a double on a two-ball, two-strike pitch for a 2-1 lead.
The Sharks padded its lead to two runs in the seventh as Labrador, who reached base on an error by second baseman Ryan Garcia, eventually scored as catcher Melvin de Castro bobbled the ball.
Taguig won despite recording just eight hits in the game while committing four errors in the game. Manila, on the other hand, had just one error - a fielding miscue by Galedo in the sixth inning.
With the league taking a break next weekend to observe All Saints Day, the Patriots returns to action on November 8 against the Dumaguete Uni-Bikers. The Sharks will also return on that same day opposite Series 3 champion Batangas.
