Comets’ comeback baffles Braves, 15-14

Down 7-1 after four complete innings, the Comets scored 14 runs through the final three innings to complete a come-from-way-behind victory over the Braves on Tuesday night to surge into first place of the Big League.

Pat Alepuyo hit the game-winning RBI when he doubled in J.P. Sablan in the top of the seventh to complete the finishing touches on the offensive explosion that gave the Comets their first of the game, but the action at Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field was far from over.

With the 15-12 lead, Sablan returned to his relief duties atop the mound and experienced a scare as the Braves scored three runs off of three hits, but he slammed the door in the bottom of the seventh by striking out Ryan Dueñas to end the game.

Braves starting pitcher John Tudela did a good job of holding back the Comets as he allowed one run off of two hits and fanned five through four innings, but the comeback started in the top of the fifth when he began to tire and his fielders committed costly errors.

The Comets scored five runs in the top of the fifth inning off of one hit, two walks, and two errors to roar back into the game at 7-6, but the Braves answered with four runs to increase their lead to five runs.

The Comets continued their course with four runs off of four hits in the top of the sixth to pull within a run of the Braves at 11-10. After silencing their foes in the bottom of the innings, they took the lead in the top of the seventh when they rallied to score five runs off of four hits.

Shortstop Oliver Secharmidal led the way for the Comets with an outstanding 4-for-5 performance at the plate that included a single and three doubles, five runs batted in, and four plate crossings.

The “Big O” was rivaled by teammate J.P. Sablan who went 3-for-5 with the bat that produced a pair of singles and a double, drove in three runs, and led to three runs scored, while teammate Darson Camacho was limited to a 1-for-1 outing with an RBI double due to three walks. The first baseman made the most of his free trips to first by crossing the plate for four Comets’ scores.

The win put the Comets in first place with a record of 6-3, while the Braves slid into second at 6-4. Big League baseball continues tonight at Tan Ko field at 6pm.