Yankees trip Starz for 4th win

Brian Camacho drove in the game-winning run as the Saipan Stevedore Yankees completed a 20-10 demolition of the North Starz in last Wednesday night’s Saipan Baseball League match at the Francisco M. “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.

With two outs and Tony Joab, who earlier hit a two-RBI double, on base, Camacho doubled to deep center to bring in the Yankees right fielder and end the match in the bottom of the seventh via the mercy rule.

The win was the fourth straight, a winning run that include an 8-5 decision over 2007 and title contender Falcons, for the Yankees pushing them to a tie at first place with the defending champion GSM Brewers with similar 5-1 slates while the Starz dropped to 1-5.

Designated hitter Chris Camacho led off for the Yankees and was hit by a Jon Tenorio pitch, while Jack Sablan got on base on a shortstop Tim Cruz error. Both runners scored on Joab’s double to make it 19-10.

Joab was left stranded on base for a while after Jerome Delos Santos and Peter Tomokane flied out straight to left fielder Ian Lizama’s glove.

Brian Camacho then stepped on the plate and took Jon Tenorio’s second pitch to deep center allowing Joab to run toward home where he was greeted by his teammates.

Left fielder Brian Camacho scored three times on a 3-for-6 plate appearance with a double and four RBIs, while catcher Ben Cabrera went 3-for-5 with three singles and two RBIs.

Batting leader Gary Cruz, 2-for-4, had one run and drove in four runs, while Joab had two doubles, three runs, two RBIs on a 2-for-5 batting.

Kevin Kapileo closed out and shut down the Starz in the seventh inning allowing consecutive hits to Ricardo Dela Cruz and Tim Cruz.

Jesse Sablan led off for the Starz and was forced by Kapileo to ground out to Yankees third baseman Gary Cruz, while Lizama flied out to center fielder John Tudela for the quick two outs.

Dela Cruz and Tim Cruz were left stranded on base after Kapileo struck out Chad Atalig.

Jared Camacho, who was celebrating his birthday on Wednesday, pitched 1.2 innings in the start and was tagged with four earned runs on two hits with one strike, and seven walks.
Peter Tenorio tossed 4.1 innings in relief giving up four runs, one earned, on five hits with one strikeout and no walks.

Jon Tenorio earned the loss giving up 13 runs, three earned, on nine hits, one strikeout, and three walks in 5.1 innings on the mound for the North Starz.