Yankees survive hit parade with Jets

The Saipan Stevedore Yankees survived a hit parade against the Jets and completed a wild 29-21 win on Wednesday night in the 2015 Saipan Baseball League at the Francisco M. “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.

A Saipan Stevedore Yankees batter watches the flight of the ball in their game against the North Starz last month. The Yankees closed out the first round after outlasting the Jets, 29-21, last Wednesday night in the 2015 Saipan Baseball League at the Francisco M. “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.
(Jon Perez)

The Yankees, after dropping a 9-6 decision against the defending champion GSM Brewers on Jan. 30, won three straight games including an 8-5 triumph over 2007 titlist Falcons last week.

The Yankees closed out the first round with a 4-1 card, while the Jets dropped all five games. Both bullpens also combined for 45 hits and 19 earned runs.

The Jets actually looked headed for their first win when they scored nine runs in the first inning. They made five quick runs forcing the Yankees to call in Jared Camacho to replace Carl Camacho.

The game was close heading into the bottom of the eighth, with the Yankees holding on to a 22-20 lead. The Yanks then scored eight runs in the eighth, while John Tudela had some anxious moments on the mound before preserving the win in the ninth.

Tudela walked Jets lead off batter A.J. Evangelista, who stole second and moved to third on a balk before being stranded for a while after James Benavente grounded out to Pete Tomokane and Anthony David striking out.

Evangelista touched home plate on a Davie Matagolai RBI single. The Jets put two more runners on base after Jess Mesa was safe on first on a Chris Alepuyo fielding error and Tudela walking Palmero Monkeya to load up the bases.

But Tudela ended the Jets’ slim chances of making a comeback when he struck out Perry Tudela.

Batting leader Gary Cruz went 5-for-7 with three runs and four RBIs, while Robert Bansil, 3-for-5, scored four times and had three RBIs including a two-RBI triple in the first inning. Jerome Delos Santos, 4-for-6 had three runs and three RBIs.

Alepuyo also had a two-RBI triple in a 2-for-4 performance at the plate with three runs and Brian Camacho went 3-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs, including an RBI double in the Yankees’ six-run second inning.

John Tudela pitched the last four innings, giving up two earned runs on five hits while striking out five and walking four.

On Friday, Anthony Tenorio fanned nine and K.J. Villagomez drove in three runs in the Fielders’ 16-9 victory over the Jets.