Muñoz pitches first Baseball Philippines Series no-hitter

MANILA, Philippines—Seventeen-year-old Carlos Muñoz threw the first-ever no-hitter in the league as he lifted Alabang to a thrilling 1-0 victory over Dumaguete, on Sunday, in the Baseball Philippines Series 8 at the Rizal Memorial ballpark.

A college freshman from La Salle who only gets to play on weekends, Muñoz struck out 13 batters and allowed one walk in nine innings as the Tigers got back at the Unibikers, who beat them on Saturday and ended a five-game losing streak in Lipa City.

“Defense was excellent and that keyed our win today,” said Muñoz, who wrapped up the rare feat by fanning Pelos Remollo for the final out with the tying and winning runs on board. “My fastballs really came together.”

Matt Laurel singled home the winning run in the first inning off Ernesto Binarao, scoring Andro Cuyugan, who had earlier doubled.

Binarao had nine strikeouts but allowed five hits and three walks in a similar no-relief job.

Earlier, Batangas also exacted revenge over Taguig with a 4-2 win to reclaim third place with a 3-5 slate.

Taguig fell to fourth at 2-5 in a tie with Alabang, even as Dumaguete fell to last again at 1-5.

Stung by a 10-6 loss to the Patriots in Lipa City on Saturday, the Bulls rallied with a four-run blitz in the eighth inning to wipe out a 2-0 lead by Taguig.

Singles by home run king Vio Roxas, Jojo Apura, Charles Catangui and Randy de Leon and aided by a walk and an error allowed Batangas to tie it at 2-2.

Justin Payongayong returned to relieve Irvin Tuazon only to issue a walk with the bases loaded to give the Bulls the lead for the first time, 3-2. A sacrifice fly by Chris Canlas capped the four-run rally.

Clean-up batter Jeffrey Hardillo lined a two-run double to the left against Romeo Jasmin to give Taguig a 2-0 lead in the fourth.

Linescores

BATANGAS —000-000-040—4 8 3

TAGUIG —000-200-000—2 4 1

DUMAGUETE—000-000-000—0 0 4

ALABANG —100-000-000—1 5 1