Error helps D9ers edge Tigers in SML

One error spelled victory for one team while it proved disastrous for the other.

A bottom of the ninth error by Tigers third baseman Ivan Igitol helped D9ers escape with a 15-14 win in Monday night’s game in the 3rd Annual Budweiser-Saipan Major League at the Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field.

With the score tied a 14-14, after the Tigers rallied from a four-run deficit after seven innings, Greg Camacho singled off Tigers pitcher Ben Duenas and later stole second base to move closer into scoring position.

Joe Tenorio grounded to first baseman Clinton Ruluked then made the throw to Igitol, who only needs to tag out a running Camacho to earn the first out preventing him to move 90 feet away from home plate.

Instead, the ball bounced off Igitol’s glove and rolled past fair territory just a few feet away from third base. Seeing the recent turn of events, Camacho ran toward home to score the winning run to the dismay of the Tigers.

The Tigers seemed headed for a comeback win when they scored four runs in the eighth and ninth innings to tie the game. Ton Pangelinan led off with a single in the eighth then scored, with one out, on a Reno Celis single to start their rally.

Celis moved to second base when Manny Tenorio grounded out to D9ers pitcher Leeroy Dela Cruz for a 1-3 putout play for the second out. Ben Cabrera had an infield fly, which was caught by catcher Pat Alepuyo to end the inning.

Duenas then stepped on the mound in the bottom of the eighth forcing Alepuyo to ground out to Celis on a 6-3 putout play for the first out. Speedy Larry Tenorio singled to right center, stole second base, and moved to third on a Ben Mesa single.

Tenorio was left stranded on a Tigers double play as Camacho grounded out to Celis, who made the throw to second baseman Jess Mesa for the first half of the double play.

Mesa then quickly made the relay throw to first baseman Ruluked as Camacho failed to beat the throw to end the inning.

In the top of the ninth, Igitol was safe at first on a Camacho error when the D9ers center fielder dropped an easy fly ball. He moved to second when Dela Cruz walked Mesa.

Mabel Ngirngemelas, on a full count, swung on Dela Cruz’s sixth pitch and struck out for the first out.

Dennis Cruz was safe on first on a Jeff Tenorio throwing error with Igitol scoring in that play. Pangelinan grounded out to Tenorio on a 4-3 putout play for the second out but Mesa managed to reach home in the play.

Another D9ers error gave Ruluked the chance to reach first base while Cruz scored one more run for the Tigers in Greg Camacho’s error.

Celis grounded out to Tenorio on a 4-3 putout play for the final out—setting up Greg Camacho’s winning run.

Last Friday, Tony Palacios pitched seven one-hit innings to lead Rock Steady to a 14-4 win over defending champion Tanapag Falcons in a battle of two previously undefeated teams.

Palacios gave up two earned runs but had nine strikeouts and walked six batters to secure Rock Steady’s sixth straight win in as many games and snap the Falcons’ four-game winning run.

Ton Manibusan went 2-for-4 scoring twice with a two-RBI double in Rock Steady’s seven-run seventh inning scoring.

Today’s game will have Kabur aiming for its first win this season when they go up against the dangerous Ford Rangers at 6:30pm.