CNMI Big League All-Stars fall to PH, 2-3

The CNMI Big League All-Stars fell to the Philippines, 2-3, yesterday, in Day 4 of the Asia-Pacific Big League Regional Tournament held at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Manila, Philippines.

The CNMI absorbed its first loss in three games as the hosts spoiled the Commonwealth’s run for a sweep. However, the CNMI will meet the Philippines again in tomorrow’s finals at 11am (1pm Saipan time) as Guam, which is winless in three games, is out of the running. The Philippines finished its round-robin assignments with a 3-1 win-loss card. The CNMI is currently at 2-1, while Guam is winless in three matches.

The CNMI faces Guam today at 11am (1pm Saipan time) to complete its round robin. Nathan Guerrero is expected to take the mound against Guam.

Notably, CNMI ace pitcher Joshua Jones has maxed out his pitch count after Monday’s first pairing with the Philippines. However he will still be in the lineup as the team needs his stick at the plate. Meanwhile, CNMI coaches are still trying to determine who will get the ball in Friday’s finals.

Much like the first matchup, the game started out as another chess match as neither team touched home in the first four innings.

The CNMI then broke the ice with a run in the top of the fifth. Keoni Lizama started the engine with a double to center field. He moved to third off a passed ball and was driven home by a Rocco Reyes’ liner to center.

The Philippines answered with a run in the bottom frame, but the CNMI reclaimed the lead, 2-1, in the sixth inning. Juan Maratita smashed a base rip to right field and went to second off a passed ball. Eric Tenorio then brought him home with an RBI smash to left field.

But in the end, the Philippines rallied with two runs in the bottom frame and held off the CNMI in its final stand.

CNMI pitcher Richard Dela Cruz gave up one run of four hits and four walks with a strikeout in five innings. Dave Jones came in for relief at the start of the sixth inning. He allowed a pair of runs off a hit and four walks; all three runs by the Philippines were unearned.

In batting, the CNMI’s Maratita swung 2-for-4 with a run.

Notably, pitch counts were released from Monday’s double-header.

The CNMI’s Guerrero split time with Joseph Palacios in the morning game against Guam, which the CNMI took, 6-1. Guerrero started and went 60 pitches before Palacios finished the game 51 pitches later.

Joshua Jones then led the CNMI to a 6-2 victory over the Philippines later that afternoon. He went 109 pitches before handing it off to Dave Jones to secure the save. CNMI batters went through four pitchers in the second game.