Braves edge Rays in Majors, 9-8

The Natibu Tanapag Braves survived the Pacific Amusement Rays, 9-8, in the Saipan Little League’s Major Division matchup held last Sunday at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.

Also on Sunday the Dandan Comets defeated the Natibu Tanapag Falcons, 10-0, in four innings, the JPO-DPS Dare Program Enforcers shut out the Bank of Saipan Red Sox, 11-0, while the Rays rebounded on Monday against McDonald’s, 12-0.

The Braves built a 6-3 lead in the opening frame with a lot of patience at the plate. The Braves managed four walks in the inning and scored off a trio of fielder’s choices and some passed balls.

The Rays tied the game briefly with three runs in the second inning that came off a single by Nathaniel Torres, an RBI walk, and an error; but the Braves reassumed control, 8-6, in the bottom frame with a double by Brandon Pua and an RBI walk.

Rays’ Jay Kalen put his team within a run with a sacrifice fly in the third inning, but the Braves held strong in the final two innings after both squads mustered a run in the fourth frame.

Pua swung 2-for-3 with an RBI, two runs, and a stolen dish. Rays’ Torres batted 2-for-3 with an RBI, two runs, and a base on balls.

Both teams went 1-2-3 in the first inning and the Comets raced to an 8-0 lead in the bottom of the second off seven hits.

Ethan Babauta started things off with a triple and was doubled home by Erik Cruz. Then after two runs scored off errors, Aurel Mendiola bashed an RBI single, while Babauta bagged another RBI double, and Cruz an RBI single, as the Comets batted around its lineup. the Falcons left runners at second and third in the top part of the inning.

The Falcons’ struggles continued at the plate against Cruz who went on to ring up 11 strikeouts in four innings. He gave up just two hits and two walks.

To top things off, Comets’ Mendiola delivered the two runs needed for an early decision with one swing of the bat with a two-out, two-run home run in the top of the third inning. Norman Villagomez came to the plate with him.

Mendiola batted 2-for-3 with four RBIs, two runs, and a stolen base. Cruz swung 2-for-2 with three RBIs and a run. Babauta went 2-for-2 with two runs and Falcons’ Donny Manalo managed to go 2-for-2 against the Comets’ veteran ace, but was left stranded at third base both times.

Enforcers’ Kier Agda pitched a two-hit, 11-0 shutout in four innings to a developing Red Sox crew.

Agda’s teammates rewarded his effort with an early 3-0 advantage from an error and a pair of RBI base hits by Agda and Jimmy Laniyo.

The Enforcers then trudged ahead, 8-0, in the second frame off five hits and three walks. The runs came home off an early error, an RBI base knock by Joaquin Saralu, a double by Agda, a booming three-RBI triple by Troy Laniyo, and an RBI single by Kikko Lizama.

Agda remained in cruise control on the mound and his team added two more runs for good measure in the third inning before receiving the early nod.

On the mound, Agda issued just one walk to his first batter and gave up two hits and a bean ball with six strikeouts. He batted 2-for-2 with two RBIs, three runs, and a hit-by-pitch.

The Rays jumped on top, 5-0, in the bottom of the first inning. Manuel Celis loaded the bases with a single after a pair of leadoff walks.

An extra throw allowed Ramnes Karben to scamper home, while Jay Kalen was grounded home by Nathaniel Torres. Two more runs scored off errors before Blas reached and stole home.

The Rays’ top of the order then added four more runs in the second inning with a pair of leadoff doubles by Karben and Kalen. Karben scored from Kalen and the latter stole home plate. The other runs came in off a wild pitch and a double by Torres.

Then in the third, Rays’ Joeny Villagomez singled and stole home, Kalen drove in Karben with an RBI base rip, and Celis cranked out a double and scored off a wild pitch.

Kalen batted 2-for-3 with two RBIs, two runs, a base on balls, and a stolen dish. Celis swung 2-for-3 with three runs, a base on ball, and two stolen bases.