PHILIPPINES – Last week, the Dumaguete Uni-Bikers endured a pitcher’s duel. This time, though, they would be on the winning end after encountering another low-scoring battle.

Lefty pitcher Darwin dela Calzada had a usual outing while young reliever Edward Flores put on a surprising performance as the Uni-Bikers blanked the Manila Sharks, 2-0.

Dela Calzada, who was edged out by Forward Taguig’s Ernesto Binarao in a 1-0 setback last week, gave up just four hits in six innings of work before Flores, a seldom-used 16-year old phenom from La Salle Zobel, made three strikeouts in three innings to dominate the veteran-laiden Sharks.

The win enabled Dumaguete to snap a four-game losing skid to overtake Manila for fifth place in the standings with a 3-6 record. The Uni-Bikers will play one more game against the Muntinlupa Mariners on Saturday.

On the other hand, Manila finished the elimination round with a 3-7 record for last place. However, they could clinch fifth spot in the first round of the playoffs scheduled on November 30 if the Uni-Bikers lost against Muntinlupa.

Like last week, it was a battle of two national team mainstays but dela Calzada, combined with Flores’ exploits, was able to beat his Manila counterpart Charlie Labrador.

Labrador, the reigning two-time Best Pitcher winner, took the loss despite giving up seven hits and fanned three Dumaguete batters in an eight-inning outing.

Dumaguete got its first run of the game, when Saxon Omandac scored from second off a bad throw by second baseman Francis Candela. At that time, Candela was supposed to complete an inning-ending double play off a groundball when the error was made.

Dela Calzada then drove in the Uni-Bikers’ second run when he hit a single to right field in the eighth to score Dumaguete catcher Edmer del Socorro.

Manila, who made five defensive errors in the game, wasted several opportunities to score a run by leaving 10 runners on base.

Two of those came when Candela was tagged out at home plate by del Socorro after a hit by Jarus Inobio in the fifth frame. In the seventh, the Sharks loaded the bases with one out, only for third base runner JB Castro to be tagged out at home before Flores fanned Inobio to end the side.

Flores would cruise along in the last two innings that saw him struck out Inobio on three pitches to end the game.

Dumaguete shortstop Bambol Servo had two hits in four times he batted against his former team. Despite some key errors that cost them the game, Candela got two hits in five at-bats to lead the Sharks.

Manila’s .300 winning percentage was the second-worse elimination round effort in team history, behind the .250 mark they held in Series 1.

Jonas Terrado is the Chief Writer for the Baseball Philippines website.

Tags: Philippines