Kintol captains Kings’ comeback, 9-5

After first baseman Ray Camacho scored to tie the game in the top of the ninth inning to send the game into extra innings, shortstop Matt Kintol singled in Tony Manibusan for the game-winning score to give the Budweiser Kings their fourth win in comeback fashion, 9-5, in the continuation of the 2005 edition of the Saipan Major League Saturday at the Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field.

In a game that saw five lead changes, the Toyota Tacoma led by one run for four innings before Camacho crossed the plate to even the match at five runs apiece. Trailing by a run and down to their final out, Camacho singled to get on base for the Kings in the top of the ninth, and following B.J. Seman’s double, later scored on an error by the catcher to tie the game.

Once in extra innings, the Kings got the ball rolling with back-to-back singles by Manibusan and Tyrone Attao before Tom Dela Cruz was walked to load the bases.

The stage was set for Kintol, and the youngster made the most of his opportunity with a clutch single that drove in Manibusan for the 6-5 lead. Second baseman Herman Kintol picked up an RBI when he got plunked to score Attao for a 7-5 lead, and late edition Ben Reyes singled in Dela Cruz and Matt Kintol for the final scores of the game.

Though the Tacoma got another shot at pitcher Mike Taitano, they were done in by a double play and fly to left that ended the game.

Kintol finished the night with a 2-for-4 outing at the plate with a pair of singles, two runs scored, and the game-winning run batted in, while designated hitter Seman went 3-for-6 at the plate with a pair of singles, a double, and an RBI.

Both of the starting pitchers went the distance for their ball clubs, but Kings’ hurler Taitano came away with the win thanks to Kintol’s heroics. Taitano pitched 10 complete innings of five-run nine-hit baseball in which he fanned half a dozen batters and gave up seven walks. Three of the free base getters were eventually converted into runs by the Tacoma, but the Kings were able to overcome.

On the other hill, Oscar Sablan pitched a solid game despite picking up the loss, as the ace allowed nine runs off of 11 hits through 10 innings. Sablan fanned nine in the box and walked eight Kings—four of whom later crossed the plate for scores.

While he threw strong for the entire game, fatigue began to settle in when he gave up four runs off of four hits and walked a batter in the final inning that decided the outcome.