THE 2025 Saipan Baseball League kicked off on Wednesday with the Cardinals defeating the Padres, 18-8, at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.
The Padres established control of the pace in the top of the opening inning with a strong defensive display by their third baseman, MJ Aldan. His contributions began with a pickoff to first base. Although the Cardinals answered with runners on the corners, Aldan quickly turned the tables with a double play — first tagging a runner at third, then throwing to first — to retire the side and send the game to the bottom half of the inning.
On the offensive end, the Padres kept the momentum going, scoring two runs off errors and another on Darion Jones’ single-turned-RBI to take a 3-1 lead after one complete inning.
In the next inning, the Padres continued to control both sides of the game — shutting down the Cardinals with three quick outs, then adding two more runs in the bottom half, highlighted by Ton Salas’ two-RBI single, to extend the lead to 5–1.
Despite a slow start, the Cardinals found their spark in the top of the third inning.
The rally began with singles from Keoni Kaipat and Pat Tenorio, followed by a hit-by-pitch that loaded the bases.
Their first run came when Jerald Cabrera was also hit by a pitch, earning an RBI, and another scored on a passed ball.
With two outs already recorded, Eli Aughenbaugh kept the momentum alive, ripping a line drive to right field for a two-RBI double.
Poland Masaharu and Kaipat then followed with RBI singles, adding two more runs and giving the Cardinals the lead.
Although the Padres were held down to just one run in the bottom half, it was enough to tie the game, 6-6.
The Cardinals kept the pressure on in the top of the fourth, adding three more runs to their tally, while the Padres managed just one in the bottom half.
The Cardinals extended their lead again in the fifth with two additional runs, as the Padres answered with only one, bringing the score to 11-8.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Cardinals hammered the final nail in the Padres’ coffin with a seven-run scoring spree, pushing their lead into double digits and ending the game early via the 10-run mercy rule, 18–8.
The Cardinals’ Pat Tenorio Jr. connects a single during the opening game against the Padres in the 2025 Saipan Baseball League at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field on Wednesday.
Photo by James F. Sablan Jr.
The Padres’ Ben Flores slides to beat the attempted pick off from the Cardinals’ third baseman Brian Camacho during the opening game of the 2025 Saipan Baseball League at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field on Wednesday.
Photo by James F. Sablan Jr.
The Padres’ Zach Blas pitches against the Cardinals during the opening game of the 2025 Saipan Baseball League at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field on Wednesday.
Photo by James F. Sablan Jr.
