McDonald’s splits games

McDonald’s went 1-for-2 in the Majors division games in the 2019 Saipan Little League Baseball at the Capitol Hill Ballfield.

McDonald’s first defeated defending champions Kagman Little Legals last Saturday, 14-4, before bowing to the Comets last Monday, 4-6.

Versus the Little Legals, McDonald’s had an eight-run bottom of the fourth inning to clinch the victory after only five innings. McDonald’s was just ahead by 2 after three complete innings, 5-3, when Isaiah Mesa anchored the team’s breakaway in the pivotal fourth after hitting a two-run single. Seven of McDonald’s top of the order reached in that frame and three batted twice with Ezra Ada scoring two times. Dylan Santos attempted to match Ada’s feat when he ran home, but was tagged out by Little Legals catcher Santiago Seman to stop the bleeding for the defending champions.

However, the damaged had been done, as the Little Legals faced a 4-13 deficit heading into the bottom of the fourth inning. It did not help that the Little Legals earlier at the top of the fourth got only one run and had two runners stranded after Santos, who relieved Joey Dela Cruz, made three straight strikeouts.

Santos then fanned the Little Legals leadoff batter and helped bring down the second off a 1-3 putout play, while Seman flied out to center field to wrap up the top of the fifth.

McDonald’s eventually closed out the game one inning early when leadoff batter Casey Chambers scored off J.P. Isaac’s single at the bottom of the fifth.

McDonald’s returned to the field last Monday to face the streaking Comets and the latter ended up denying the former back-to-back wins.

Greg Tebit powered the Comets to the close win over McDonald’s, as he blasted a three-run homer at the bottom of the fifth inning and also held his ground on the mound in the early innings to frustrate their foes.

Before Tebit’s big hit, the Comets were clinging to a 3-2 advantage after four complete innings. Then at the top of the fifth, the Comets had runners on second and third with two outs when Tebit’s roundtripper also brought home Javen Camacho and Jay Lizama. Jesus Tyquengco tried to add one more run when he headed to third base, but was tagged out, giving McDonald’s a chance to stay in the game.

McDonald’s did remain in contention when Ada and Santos reached off passed balls at the bottom of the fifth. However, the Comets hung on to the lead in the last inning after forcing McDonald’s to a quick 1-2-3 at the bottom of the sixth. Tyquengco, who relieved Tebit midway at the bottom of the fifth, struck out leadoff batter Mesa, helped shortstop Sam Aldan tagged out Isaac, while McDonald’s third batter went down on a 6-3 putout play.

Tyquengco allowed only one hit in 1.4 innings pitched and had three strikeouts, while Tebit fanned nine batters, was 2-for-2 at bat, and scored three runs.