Dodgers’ Clint Quitugua pitches against the Pirates during game 1 of the 2023 SBL Masters League championship series on Monday, Feb. 19, at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field. The Pirates won, 10-6.
THE Dodgers lived to fight another day as they forced a third and final game in the championship series of the 2023 SBL Masters League by edging the Pirates, 14-12, in game 2 at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field on Monday.
The first three innings were played Wednesday, Feb. 21, with the Dodgers holding a slight lead.
In the opening inning, the Pirates quickly opened up the scoreboard thanks to their second at bat, Mark Toves, who connected a triple, which brought in the first batter, Jerome Delos Santos, to home plate.
After Pete Sablan was given a walk, Audie Maratita took the spotlight by sending one out of the park for a three-run homer to extend the lead, 4-0, before the Dodgers stopped the bleeding with one runner on base.
The Dodgers aimed for redemption, but their first two at bat were taken out in a double play. Glen Camacho then capitalized off an infield error to slip past home while teammate John Acosta earned a two-RBI double by bringing in Bruce Norita and Rob Bansil to get back within reach, 3-4.
The Pirates kept the momentum burning with two runs scored in the top of the second inning, but these were answered with a solo homerun by Ed Manibusan to allow the Dodgers to stay close behind, 4-6.
In the top of the third, the Dodgers’ defensive play bagged three consecutive outs, which included another double play. They then scored three runs in the bottom half of the inning to snatch the lead, 7-6, before the game was stopped due to the rain.
On Monday, game 2 resumed with the Pirates picking up where they left off, thanks to an RBI single by Manny Sablan. But Norita replied with a two-RBI double to allow the Dodgers to remain afloat, 9-7.
The Pirates regained the upper hand in the top of the fifth after Vinnie Sablan hit an RBI single and Joey Dela Cruz delivered a two-RBI double to seize the lead, 10-9.
In the sixth inning, three straight outs silenced the Pirates while the Dodgers brought in five runs highlighted by a two-run homer by Mark Villagomez and a two-RBI triple by Mel Manahane as their team took the helm once more, 14-10.
In the top of the seventh and final inning, the Pirates attempted to stay alive with the first two at bat, Mark Toves and Pete Sablan, filling third and second bases. But their momentum was disrupted by back-to-back strikeouts. Dela Cruz managed to shed some light with a two-RBI single to close the distance, 12-14, but he was stopped by the Dodgers’ shortstop, Derek Aguon, with a fielder’s choice to second base for the third and final out needed to seal the deal and extend the series to game 3, which will be played today, Wednesday.
