Yankees nose out Comets, 8-7

A Yankees runner prepares to head to home plate during their Big League division game against the Comets last Saturday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Yankees edged the Comets, 8-7, during their Big League game in the 2016 Saipan Little League Baseball last Saturday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

First baseman Angel Palacios made the go-ahead hit, as his single drove Peyton Lizama home at the bottom of the fifth inning. Shortstop Roke Tenorio also scored in the crucial inning, as he stole home to tie the match, 7-7.

The Yankees played catch up in the fifth inning after the Comets combined for seven runs in the third and fourth to make up for the latter’s silence in the first two innings and grab the driver’s seat, 7-6. Franko Nakamura had a two-RBI single at the bottom of the third and also reached home off the Yankees’ error, while Austin Roberto nailed an RBI single for the Comets’ four runs. Justin Lisua then blasted a two-RBI triple in the fourth, while Nakamura added an RBI single to put the Comets on top.

The Yankees lost the upper hand after four complete innings as they could not sustain a good start. They got three runs in the first off Tenorio’s RBI single and two from the Coments’ defensive lapses, but tallied only one run each in the next three innings. Jesse Brel posted an RBI single in the second, Palacios had a sacrifice out in the third, and Alden Ngeskebei reached off a wild pitch in the fourth.

After giving up the lead, the Yankees boosted their chances to regain it with some defensive stops in the fifth inning. Brel, who closed out for the Yankees, struck out Comets leadoff batter E.J. Castro and did the same to fourth batter Ton Ilo for the third out. The Comets were called for the second out when third batter Craig Aguon flied out to third. Roberto batted second for the Comets and advanced on a hit by pitch, but was stranded at second after Brel struck out Castro to end the top of the fifth.

At the bottom of the fifth, Tenorio started things off for the Yankees and had a walk. He then moved to second off a wild pitch from Nakamura and then stole third and home to force the first deadlock in the match.

Lizama also had a walk and advanced to third off the Comets’ miscues before being driven home by Palacios’s single with no outs. Nakamura then stopped the bleeding after striking out T.J. Chong and the Comets wrapped up the fifth with Roberto catching a fly ball from Perry Celis and teaming up with Aguon for the 4-3 play to leave Ngeskebei stranded at second.

However, the Comets failed to reclaim the driver’ seat, as it was the Yankees’ turn to play tough defense in the last two innings to keep the precarious lead. A 1-2-3 inning at the top of the sixth helped the Yankees stay on top and they protected the lead in the last inning as the Comets were done after four batters. The first two went back to the dugout as Lisua flied out at centerfield and Jess Kalen grounded out at first. Castro gave the Comets some hope when he made a single, but he was left stranded at first when Brel struck out Roberto.