THE ALABANG Tigers recovered from a disastrous start as they edged the Batangas Bulls, 13-12, in a game that went the extra innings during the opening salvo of the Baseball Philippines Series 9 yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
The Tigers were staring at a huge 0-8 lead after the first inning but eventually came roaring back to get the win.
The Tigers trailed after the Bulls’ first-inning explosion off starting pitcher Carlos Laurel but they inched their way back tying the game after a three-run fifth inning.
Alabang took the lead in the sixth inning on a two-run single by Adrian Bernardo before amassing a 12-9 lead on a sacrifice fly by Mark Anthony Kakisako in the seventh inning.
Batangas extended the game with three runs in the ninth tying it on an SJ San Juan two-out RBI double and nearly won the game but Rafael Balagtas was tagged out at home plate after a relay throw by Alabang.
Matt Laurel pushed the marginal run at home plate for Alabang in the 11th with a base hit to left field to score Bernardo, who singled and stole second base to put him in scoring position.
Meanwhile, three-time defending champion Manila and Cebu clash in a rematch of the Series 8 finals at the Rizal Memorial Baseball to begin a three-game set today. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio