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Lizama, Falcons hold down Yankees
A.J. Lizama tossed a three-hit complete game, while L.J. Norita had three singles in the Falcons’ 14-2 pummeling of the Saipan Stevedore Yankees in Game 1 of their own best-of-three semis series last Monday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” M. Palacios Baseball Field.
The Yankees’ Chris Camacho prepares to run toward home plate as the Falcons’ Jeremy Atalig waits for the play in Game 1 of their best-of-three semis series last Monday. (Jon Perez)
Lizama, who finished the regular season with a 1.38 ERA for third place, pitched a complete game that was shortened by the mercy rule after the Yankees failed to mount a rally in the bottom of the seventh.
He was tagged with one earned run and gave up singles to Brian Camacho, Robert Bansil, and Pete Tomokane in the third, fourth, and sixth innings. He also retired six batters, threw one wild pitch, and hit Chris Camacho by pitch.
The Yankees needed four runs or more to continue the game but Lieto foiled their plans and finished them off in the bottom of the seventh.
Lieto, who also placed fourth in batting with a .436 average, forced Jerome Delos Santos to ground out to shortstop Lamarc Iguel, who fielded it cleanly to third baseman Ned Norita for the first out.
Chris Alepuyo got on base on a Jeremy Atalig throwing error, while Chris Camacho was hit by Lieto’s pitch. Alepuyo moved to third on a wild pitch and scored one of the Yankees’ two runs.
Chris Camacho moved to third in the process but was left stranded as Lieto got the next two outs to end the game. Lieto forced Ben Jones Jr. to ground out to third baseman Atalig and struck out David Camacho.
David Camacho, who reached first on an error by Atalig, scored the Yankees’ other run on a Robert Bansil fielder’s choice.
Norita, on his part, went 3-for-4 with three runs and an RBI-single in the top of the fourth to bring in Peter Lieto, who got on base on a fielding error by Yankees shortstop Ben Cabrera.
Center fielder Juan Iguel scored three times and had an RBI-single in the third on a 2-for-4 appearance at the plate while Frankie Lieto went 2-for-5 and had one run.
The Yankees used four pitchers and Franco Flores, Ben Cabrera, Dung Tenorio, and Chris Camacho combining for 10 hits, no strikeouts, and three walks. Flores was tagged with one earned run.
The Falcons try to wrap up the series on Monday, April 6, since no game will be played on Good Friday, April 3. The Brewers hope to close out their own semis series against the Fielders tonight.
