Dolphins beat Sharks in rain-soaked match by Jonas Terrado
(Photo - Jayzee Teofisto)Dolphins 8, Sharks 5
Co-leader Cebu Dolphins continued the frustration of the Manila Sharks, pulling off rain-marred 7-3 victory to remain on top of the team standings.
Ace pitcher Joseph Orillana gave up just one run in five innings while the Dolphins peppered the Sharks with three runs in the second frame that enabled the team to improve its record to 3-1, joining the Muntinlupa Mariners for a share of the lead.
Cebu also bounced back from a disappointing loss to the Dumaguete Uni-Bikers last October 26.
The lefty Orillana fanned five batters and yielded seven hits while he made two hits in three times he batted together with an RBI double in the second frame.
Nico Uichico capped off the binge in the said inning with a two-run single that scored Orillana and Jordan Orobia. The La Salle standout finished with three hits in four at-bats.
Manila struggled at the plate as their 14 hits went to naught after leaving 11 runners on base throughout the game.
The Sharks dropped its fourth straight setback to fell further in last place at 1-4, the worst record the team faced since Series 1 when they end up with a 1-3 card during the elimination round.
Up 3-1 in the eighth frame, the Dolphins added some needed cushion with four runs as Orobia started the scoring spree with an RBI hit off reliever Mick Natividad.
The game stopped after the third inning after a heavy downpour, leading to almost an hour of delay. When the rains stopped, league officials spent time to dry an already muddy dirt with piles of sand while players warmed-up for the game‘s resumption.
Meanwhile, the third game between the Forward Taguig Patriots and the Batangas Bulls was suspended after the fifth inning with the contest tied at 5-5.
A run-scoring single by Jojo Apura enabled the Bulls to even the score before the match was halted because of darkness.