Favorites lose in BPS 9

THE CEBU Dolphins got clobbered by the Batangas Bulls, 2-9, while the defending champions Manila Sharks got stopped by the Dumaguete Uni-Bikers, 7-8, to force a three-way tie for the lead in the standings in the Baseball Philippines Series 9 yesterday at the Parade Grounds in Clark Field, Pampanga.

Arvin Plaza drove home the winning run with a single off Manila reliever Jayson Dimacutac, scoring Bryan Lumbres and completing the hard-earned victory, their sixth against three losses, and snap the Sharks’ five-game win streak.

Dumaguete held Manila scoreless in the first five innings while scoring three runs of its own but the Sharks grabbed the lead at 7-6 as Edward Landicho blasted a two-run single at the top of the seventh.

Dumaguete avenged its 8-10 defeat to Manila last May 13 while regaining a share of the lead with its victim and Cebu.

The Dolphins, meanwhile, had no answer to the Bulls’ offense as the latter unloaded five runs in the third en route to snapping its five-game skid. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio