By Jonas Terrado

PHILIPPINES – With the epic comeback of the Boston Red Sox against the Tampa Bay Rays fresh in everyone’s minds, the Dumaguete Uni-Bikers made their own version of a comeback. Down eight runs through the first four innings, the Uni-Bikers re-emerged to post one of the biggest comebacks in the short history of the league by beating the Batangas Bulls, 13-9, in the curtain raiser of Baseball Philippines Series 4 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

In the second game of their weekend series, it was Dumaguete who outwitted Batangas in the latter part of the contest as veteran first baseman Francisco Ramos, and national team members Andro Cuyugan and pitcher Darwin dela Calzada (1-0) led the comeback.

The 41-year old Ramos had four RBI’s despite getting just one hit while Cuyugan hammered his second home run in as many days. A gutsy dela Calzada had a solid outing in place of sluggish hurlers Saxon Omandac and playing coach Lito Pulgo to exact revenge over the Bulls after their title loss in Series 3 last August.

But it was the sixth inning that decided the contest as Dumaguete responded with a six-run binge to grab a 10-8 lead. With the Uni-Bikers touching home twice, Cuyugan crushed a Jay Laurel pitch for the equalizer while Ramos drove-in Denver Largo and Edmer del Socorro for a go-ahead score off a Vladimir Eguia pitch.

From there, dela Calzada pitched a solid 5 1/3 innings while striking out three batters as he allowed Batangas to record just three hits after making 12 prior to his entry.

With the victory, the Uni-Bikers forged a four-way tie along with the Bulls, Muntinlupa Mariners and the Manila Sharks at 1-1.

Batangas rattled Omandac and Pulgo in the first four innings as Series 3 Most Valuable Player Virgilio Roxas, Jessie Natanauan and opening day hero Christian Canlas made three RBI’s apiece to take an 8-0 lead.

Eguia (0-1) was handed with the loss after surrending three runs. Starter Randy de Leon pitched five solid innings before being relieved by Jay Laurel.

Dumaguete will meet Cebu while Batangas entangles with Muntinlupa in their respective series’ next weekend.

In other action on Sunday, the Mariners split their weekend series against the Sharks with a 5-3 victory while the matchup pitting the Cebu Dolphins and the Taguig Patriots was suspended in the fourth inning with the unbeaten Cebuanos holding a 7-1 lead.

Series IV Standings

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Tags: Philippines