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Aztecs stage late rally to beat Hustlers
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Posted on Mar 06 2009
Team Aztecs staged an amazing rally late to beat Hustlers, 8-5, Thursday night in the Big League Division at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.
The Aztecs recovered from a mediocre start before spoiling Giovianni Ayuyu’s two-run homerun that gave the Hustlers a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Ayuyu’s homer was the first for the Big League this year but his effort went for naught as the Aztecs roared back into contention in the last two innings for the big upset. It was their second consecutive win after dropping their first assignment.
The Aztecs started their hitting spree in the top of the sixth inning when Tim Cruz, John Welsen, and Nick Cruz reached home plate on wild pitches by Ayuyu. The pitcher’s mistakes allowed the Aztecs to move within a run, 3-4.
Hustlers outfielder Nico Martin then equalized the score at 4-4 on his lone run in the game on another Ayuyu wild pitch.
Ayuyu’s replacement didn’t do too well either as Tony Rogolofoi Jr. allowed four more runs in the top of the seventh inning as the Hustlers took the lead, 8-4.
John Pangelinan did manage to score a run for the Hustlers, but Aztecs reliever Nick Cruz shut them down, retiring the next three batters on fly balls.
Aztecs now share the lead with D9ers, the team they lost to in their first game by the narrowest of margins. Both are now on top of the Big League division at 2-1.
Aztecs lost to D9ers, 8-7, last Feb. 21 but bounced back with a 13-2 blowout win against IT&E Fielders.
Despite the back-to-back wins, Aztecs team manager Glenn Dikito said his players still committed a lot of mental lapses.
“Our offense is good. I’m confident with our defense. I know my players because I handled them four years ago in the Majors but they still lack mental toughness,” said Dikito.
The Aztecs’ next game will be against defending champion Tanapag Falcons on March 17. The Falcons sport a 1-1 record, same as the Hustlers.
