SEA Games: Philippines slips past top rival Thailand in men’s baseball

NEW CLARK CITY — The Philippines needed a two-run second inning to turn back top gold medal rival Thailand, 3-2, at the start of men’s baseball competitions of the 30th Southeast Asian Games on Monday at The Villages here.

Winning the match that is largely perceived as the “championship match,” the Filipinos bolstered their campaign.

Thailand opened up the scoring with a run in the first inning, but the Philippines turned the tables with better batting in the next frame.

“Hitting is the main key, as long we keep them busy we are on right track,” said Philippines’ Team Manager Orlando Binarao.

The Philippines also scored in the sixth. Thailand had run top of the eighth but could not get through the host’s tough fielding in the 9th to yield the match.

Indonesia opened up its campaign with a 14-7 victory over Singapore in the other preliminary round.