Manila edges Cebu, gains baseball lead

Bambol Servo pushed home the game-winning run as Manila survived two home runs to edge Cebu, 8-7, and take the early lead in the Dunkin’ Donuts Baseball Philippines Series VI yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Servo, a former player of the defunct Dumaguete Unibikers, came in as a pinch hitter in the ninth and sent Joseph Orillana’s pitch to deep left field to score second baseman Francis Candela from first base.

The game looked headed for extra innings when Orillana issued flyouts to catcher Rommel Roja and left fielder Jarus Inobio but Candela kept the game alive with a single to left field before Servo’s game-winning hit.

“We were lucky,” said Manila coach Joel Palanog. “We know that Cebu won’t give up that easily so it’s a good thing that the veterans were there until the end.”

The Dolphins lost despite hitting the first two home runs of the series courtesy of RP Blu Boy Mark Rae Ramirez and Jonash Ponce late in the game.

The Sharks took a comfortable 6-2 lead in the sixth inning but reliever Jon Jon Robles had a shaky outing, his first at home since playing professionally in Czech Republic.

Lorenzo Ubungen singled in the seventh, reached second on a stolen base and third on a Ponce single before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Miggy Corcuera.

After a double by Florencio Ubungen came Ramirez, who hit a three-run home run across the right field fence and out of the stadium to tie the game.

The Sharks took a 7-6 lead in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Marvin Malig scoring Christian Galedo.

The tournament is presented by Dunkin’ Donuts and organized by Community Sports Inc.