Cebu win on Alabang's turf
by Jonas Terrado
Dolphins 9, Tigers 3
ALABANG - The league's first game outside of the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium was nearly turned into a home run derby.
And the Cebu Dolphins had a blast at the Alabang Country Club as they hit three of the game's three homers to defeat the hometown Alabang Tigers, 9-3, that helped them climb up to second place in the team standings.
Fongs Rances, Manuel Bacarisas and Miggy Corcuera took advantage of the field's small dimension, which has an estimated distance of 310 feet, by hitting it all past losing pitcher Roy Baclay that was enough for the Dolphins to secure the victory.
The win was also key for Cebu as they overtake Manila for second place in the team standings after the Sharks were manhandled by the Batangas Bulls, 17-1, at the Rizal ballpark.
Rances quickly opened up the scoring binge by launching the first long-ball of the day on the game's first at-bat. Bacarisas soon followed when he smashed a solo shot in the third frame that made it a 2-0 contest.
Three innings later and with two men on base, Corcuera completed Cebu's onslaught when he smacked a three-run shot to left-center field that pushed Cebu's lead to a commanding 8-1 lead and never looked back.
It was perhaps the best game of the tournament for Corcuera as he finished with four hits in five at-bats along with three runs-batted-in (RBI).
Starting pitcher Joseph Orillana earned the win after tossing four solid innings, striking out five batters and gave up five hits.
Orillana, who also played as the team's rightfielder and first baseman, also made three hits in five at-bats, including an RBI double that scored Corcuera in the third frame for a 3-0 advantage.
His only eyesore was in the fourth frame, when he surrendered a one-run homer by Leslie Suntay that went past the left field fence.
Alabang, which fell to 1-6, had one more consolation as catcher Erwin Manuel hit a two-run, four-bagger off reliever Sebastian Uichico that settled the final score.
No player from the Tigers made two hits in the game despite posting nine during the game.
Baclay, who will take a mandatory one-game rest on Sunday after tossing 111 pitches, whisked away 17 hits and fanned four batters in a complete game effort.