Braves edge Enforcers, 2-1

The Tanapag Braves won a low-scoring game against the JPO Enforcers, 2-1, in the Major division of the 2014 Saipan Little League Baseball League last Sunday at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.

Jose Alvarez pitched in no relief for the Braves and struck out six batters. He gave up only three hits and walked three. Helping Alvarez put the Braves on the win column were Rubin Sablan and Joe Tudela, who hit an RBI double and RBI single at the bottom of the first innings to put their team on top.

The Enforcers were scoreless in the first inning and got their only run in the second with Rikko Lizama stealing home. The Enforcers never made it past second base in the remaining four innings, as Alvarez and company hung tough on defense.

In the second game last Sunday, the Hustlers withstood the Comets II.

A seven-run top of the second inning gave the Hustlers control of the match and they survived the Comets II’s rally in the last two innings for the close win. The Hustlers collected five runs off the Comets II’s errors in the second inning, while the two other runs were courtesy of Winfield Ada’s RBI triple and Devin Aldan’s RBI single. The Hustlers scored their two other runs in the fifth inning with Darvin Manalo hitting an RBI double and also reaching home off a passed ball.

The Comets II also gained runs in the fifth inning, stealing home twice and getting another run off a passed ball to stay in the game, 7-9. The Comets II remained afloat after shutting out the Hustlers at the top of the sixth and notching one more run at the bottom of a fielder’s choice with two outs. However, the Comets II’s run ended, as Kyle Deleon Guerrero was beaten to third.

In the curtain-raiser, the Red Sox made short work of the Jets, winning the game one inning early.

Derrick P. (last name was not written on the scoresheet) pitched for the Red Sox in 3.1 innings and allowed only two hits and one run. He stranded six runners and struck out five. Jode Reyes took over the mound for the Red Sox in the last two innings and started his shift with three straight strikeouts, leaving a runner stranded at first base. Reyes got another strikeout in the fifth inning to end the match. The first two outs were made off 1-3 and 6-3 putout plays.

On offense, the Red Sox turned a precarious 2-1 lead after three innings to a 7-1 advantage after bagging three earned runs at the bottom of the fourth inning. The Red Sox scored their first two runs (earned) in the second inning, while the Jets’ lone run, also in the second inning, was unearned.