Bulls, Patriots close in on semifinal berths

CLARK FIELD, PAMPANGA—Batangas stepped closer to a semifinal berth after blanking Dumaguete, 11-0, yesterday in the Baseball Philippines Series 8 at the Parade Grounds here.

Vladymir Eguia pitched eight scoreless innings and struck out nine batters as the Bulls improved to 4-5 after pulling off their first back-to-back triumph since ending a four-game losing streak.

The Bulls, who scattered 19 hits, can clinch a semifinal berth today against the same Unibikers in the first game at 9 a.m.

“We are now a complete team. For now, our goal is just to make it to the semifinals,” said Batangas coach Randy Dizer.

In the first game, Taguig foiled Alabang’s comeback bid for an 11-8 victory.

The Patriots led 9-4 after five innings then survived the Tigers’ rally in the final four innings to gain a one-game lead in the race for the fourth spot.

Taguig improved to 3-5 while the loss sent the Tigers down to fifth place at 2-6.

The Manila Sharks and the Cebu Dolphins had earlier clinched the first two semifinal slots.

Jeff Hardillo had three RBIs while Ka Sulhay Argel came up with three hits in four times at bat as the Patriots won their second game in three outings.

Argel tripled with two outs in the fifth, scoring Christian Paul de Leon, who earlier reached first base on an error as Taguig took that 9-4 lead.

The Tigers answered with three runs in the eighth but the Patriots countered with four in their half of the inning to make it 11-7.