Falcons even up finals series

The Falcons’ A.J. Evangelista warms up while waiting for his turn at bat during Game 2 of their title series against the BSI Aces in the 2017 Saipan Baseball League last Wednesday night at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Falcons tied the best-of-five title series in the 2017 Saipan Baseball League following a 12-8 victory over the BSI Aces in Game 2 last Wednesday night at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

The Falcons scored five runs at the bottom of the third inning to take control of the match and protected their lead in the remainder of the game to bounce back from the series opening loss (3-9). The pivotal Game 3 will be played today with the Falcons having the slight psychological edge after their strong showing in Game 2.

From the 2-2 standoff after two and a half innings, the Falcons gained cushion when their first three batters at the bottom of the third scored. Giovanni Mira reached off a sacrifice fly from Bradley Lieto, Ian Norita was driven home by Ricky Joe Riungel’s double, and Darren Pua scored off Mike Salas’ wild pitch. The Falcons added two more runs off Frankie and J.J. Lifoifoi’s RBI single each to open a 7-2 advantage.

The BSI Aces got their first two runs off Barry Sunumai’s RBI single in the second inning and Lamarc Iguel’s sacrifice bunt in the third. The team also recorded one run in the fourth with Juan Iguel’s single driving John Tudela home and moving the BSI Aces within four, 3-7.

However, the Falcons got the one run back plus two more at the bottom of the fourth to increase their advantage, 10-3. Again, the Falcons’ first three batters scored with A.J. Evangelista making it home off a BSI Aces error, Mira being driven in by Pua’s single, and Norita reaching off Lieto’s base hit.

The seven-run lead after four complete innings was enough for Falcons to withstand the BSI Aces rally and hand the latter the Game 2 victory.

The BSI Aces fell short in their comeback bid despite outgunning the Falcons in the last four and half innings, 5-2. The regular season second finisher registered two runs each in the fifth and seventh inning with Nokki Saralu contributing two and Jones and Tudela chipping in one apiece.

The Falcons also had two runs at the bottom of the sixth inning, courtesy of A.J. Evangelista and Mira, who reached off the BSI Aces’ defensive lapses, for their 12-7 advantage.

The BSI Aces then made it a four-run game when leadoff Jesus Iguel scored off a Falcons’ miscue at the top of the eighth. However, that was it for the BSI Aces, as their next two batters in the eighth inning were booted out with Jones going down on a 5-3 putout play and Luis Iguel having beaten to second base. Then in the last inning, the BSI had a bad start when Tudela was beaten to first. Mike Iguel was next at bat and advanced to first off Evangelista’s fielding error, while Sunumai batted third and walked, moving the former to second.

Sunumai and Mike Iguel remained at first and second as the Falcons got the second out when Frankie Lieto caught a fly from Angel Falig at centerfield. With the Falcons one out away from clinching Game 2, the pressure was on for Juan Iguel. Closer J.J. Lifoifoi, who relieved Frankie Lieto midway in the seventh inning, gave up two walks and had one strikeout on Juan before the latter made contact with the ball and hit a grounder to third base. The ball went past third baseman Ian Norita, but he quickly turned back and picked it up before stepping on the base to beat Mike Iguel for the third out.