Dolphins’ hitters overpower Tigers in Baseball RP Series VI

Cebu leaned on its hitting prowess anew while getting steady games as well from its pitchers as it nearly blanked Alabang, 8-1 in the Baseball Philippines Series VI at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadiuim.

Joseph Orillana delivered the tournament's third homerun while Migs Corcuera and Ram Alipio each batted a two-run double as the Dolphins waxed hot at bat with 14 hits against four Tigers pitchers and scored eight runs after only four innings.

"We're really relying on our hitting prowess because we have a bunch of good hitters. My problem is really our pitching rotation because only Joseph is the veteran and because the league enforces a 50-pitch limit per game, we are at a handicap. But we will try to expose our pitchers more for them to be prepared come Playoffs," said team manager Isaac Bacarisas.

The win was the Dolphins’ second in three games to get back on the winning track after a 7-8 sorry loss to Manila last Saturday.

Orillana failed to pitch for this game as he was burned out against the Sharks, but Lorenzo Ubungen was prepared and pitched a three hitter in four innings.

"He is still adjusting being new in our team, but I expect him to get better in our next games," added Bacarisas.

It was the Tigers’ first loss after opening with a 5-0 win over newcomer Pampanga, but the team failed to contain the Cebu hitters despite using four pitchers.

Rookie Paolo Mallari started out for the Tigers and gave up nine hits with four runs in two and 1/3 inning pitch.

Dolphins leadoff batter Fulgencio Rances, who went 3-for-5 at bat, singled one to left before Mallari gave back-to-back base on balls to Orillana and Jonash Ponce to load the bases.

Corcuera stepped up the batter's box and made a long hit to left field to send home Rances and Orillana. He later scored the third run of the inning on a two-bagger by Florencio Ubungen.