PHILIPPINES – A day after facing a hefty challenge from the winless Forward Taguig Patriots, the Batangas Bulls showed why they are currently the league’s top team. Behind the pitching of Romeo Jasmin and Vladimir Eguia, along with the hitting of Vio Roxas, the Bulls continued their perfect mark in Baseball Philippines Series 5 after a 7-1 beating of the Patriots.

Jasmin and Eguia, two of the top young pitchers in the local baseball scene, combined to limit Taguig to just four hits even as Roxas showed why he is the league’s top home run hitter.

In completing a weekend sweep of the Patriots, the Bulls improved to an immaculate 6-0 record and moved two victories of clinching one of the two outright semifinal berths. On the other hand, Taguig lost its sixth in as many games to remain in last place.

SCOREBOARD
Uni-Bikers 13, Tigers 3
Uni-Bikers 12, Tigers 2
Bulls 7, Patriots 1
Bulls 5, Patriots 4
Sharks 3, Dolphins 1

The game was a stark contrast to their thrilling 5-4 victory by the Bulls in a marathon 12-inning contest a day earlier.

Showing why he was a key offseason acquisition, Jasmin totaled six strikeouts in six innings of work before Eguia took finished the job by fanning three Taguig batters in the last three frames. Both hurlers had an easy time on the mound after the Batangas offense opened with a quick 5-0 lead through the first three innings.

Highlighting that binge was Roxas, who scored the team’s fourth run in the third when he smashed a solo homer to left field off losing pitcher Ronald Bocalan. The blast made it the 11th career four-bagger for the national team member, the most by any player in the league’s two-year run.

By sweeping three of the bottom teams in the league, the Bulls now shift their attention in a crucial weekend series against the second-place Manila Sharks that starts on Saturday while the Patriots meet their rival Dumaguete Uni-Bikers, also on Saturday.

HONOR ROLL

Marlon Caspillo, Dumaguete Uni-Bikers
Smacked a three-run blast in a 12-2 win over the Alabang Tigers.

Joey Sta Maria, Dumaguete Uni-Bikers
Southpaw struck out five and allowed two hits in four innings in victory over Alabang.

Romeo Jasmin, Batangas Bulls
Fanned six over six innings to earn the win in a 7-1 victory over Taguig Patriots.

Vio Roxas, Batangas Bulls
Hit his 11th home run – the most in the two-year history of the Philippines League.

Justin Payongayong, Dumaguete Uni-Bikers
Allowed just three hits with one run in 3 1/3 innings to earn the win over Alabang.

Alabang Tigers
Turned a rare triple play in the fourth inning against the Dumaguete Uni-Bikers.

STANDINGS

Jonas Terrado is the Chief Writer at the BaseballPhilippines website

Visit BaseballPhilippines.com for complete news, standings and statistics.

Tags: Philippines