Falcons, Rangers win but Rock Steady keeps lead

Tanapag Falcons and Ford Rangers finally barged into the win column, but Rock Steady remained on top of the heap in the 2009 Saipan Major League.

Joab Jones issued 13 strikeouts in eight and a half innings as the Falcons clawed their way to a 5-2 victory over the Young Guns Wednesday night at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

Right fielder Niko Martin sparked the Falcons’ offensive thrust with two runs on a 1-for-4 performance at the plate.

He was struck out in his first try in the bottom of first but advanced to first base on a hit by pitch in the fourth inning. Martin went for a steal to second base before reaching home plate on two pass balls for the Falcons’ first run of the game.

The second run came from third baseman Mike Pangelinan who scored on a double from first baseman Manny Evangelista in the top of fourth.

Then in the fifth inning, Pangelinan drove home two runners with a grounder to right field. His two RBI single highlighted the Falcon’s first win in two starts this season.

After that, Evangelista made his second hit of the night that sent shortstop Jo Dikito to home plate to help Falcons stake to a 5-0 lead.

Reigning MVP Tyrone Omar scored the Young Guns’ first run in the top of the sixth on an RBI double by Tony Palacios.

Young Guns got their second run from Ray Dela Cruz in the ninth via fielder’s choice that momentarily posed a threat to Tanapag.

But with two outs against them, Jack Sablan failed to score for the Young Guns—Jay Camacho was also in second base—as Falcons pitcher Martin finished the game by striking out Emery Cruz.

It was the Young Guns’ second defeat in as many games after dropping their first assignment to reigning champion Rock Steady.

Rock Steady currently leads the team standings with a 2-0 record after beating Young Guns, 10-5, last Feb. 27. They opened their title-retention bid with a scary 6-5 win over the Ford Rangers last Feb. 20.

Vince Sablan pitched for the defending champions and finished with 13 strikeouts, while allowing eight walks and seven hits, including two singles and five runs.

Young Guns took a 2-0 lead on runs by Omar and Tony Palacios in the bottom first, but Rock Steady exploded with five runs in the top of the third inning with John Reyes, Oliver Secharmidal, Toi Celis, Manny Sablan, and John Paul Lizama crossing home plate.

Rock Steady added two more in the fourth from Reyes and Secharmidal for a commanding 7-2 lead that they never relinquished.

Omar, Palacios, and Ken Villagomez sliced the lead with a run each in the fifth inning, 5-7, but Young Guns failed to sustain the rally as Rock Steady sealed the win with a run each from Lizama, Martin Pangelinan, and Ben Leon Guerrero in the ninth.

Benwachi Taisacan made the first homerun of the season to lead the Ford Rangers to a 15-6 blowout of Korean Phoenix last March 2.

The win was the Rangers’ first in two outings as they made up for their 5-6 sorry defeat to Rock Steady in the season opener.

Taisacan finished with four RBIs, three runs, a homerun, and a double after going 2-for-5.

Juan Iguel added three runs with David Camacho, J.P. Sablan, Franco Flores, and Jesus Iguel logging in two apiece.

Korean Phoenix managed two runs in the fourth from Stanley Aldan and Steve Igisomar, one in the sixth from Jun Soo Won, and three in the eighth from Jang Jun Hyak, Cho Jin Geo, and Vince Cepeda.