Komoro snaps skid, Kabur continues losing

Ho Kyoon Lee blasted an inside-the-park home run while strikeout record-holder Kim Jae Young pitched 7 1/3 innings to lead Komoro to its first win in the 3rd Annual Budweiser-Saipan Major League.

Komoro ended its four-game slide giving manager Jay Han and the Korean Baseball Association-supported squad their first win with a 12-7 clipping of Kabur on Monday night at the Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field.

Lee, who walked twice, was a triple short of making the cycle going 3-for-4 including a solo shot in the top of the fifth against Kabur starter Tuwi Ngriidung. He also had a double, scored three runs, had two stolen bases, and two RBIs.

Lee also led the Komoro hit parade as they combined for 13-for-40 in batting or a .325 average compared to Kabur’s 5-for-31 or a measly .161.

Chong Soo Oh and Jun Hyuk Jang combined for 6-for-10 in batting with three runs and three RBIs. Jang also had a lead off triple in the top of the eighth.

Jung Hoon Jae went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs, while Jin Kwan Han went 1-for-6 but had a bases-clearing triple in Komoro’s six-run seventh inning scoring run.

Han, who scored on an error by Kabur third baseman Hector Efraim, tripled in the seventh inning to allow Komoro to pull away.

Oh singled but was tagged out going to second on a 6-4 putout play, while Lee singled and stole second base to give himself better position to score a run.

Lee reached third base on a Jang single and both runners reach home on a throwing error by Leo Bobai. Kim was also safe at first in that play.

Kabur manager Dennis Renguuk had enough and made a pitching change bringing in Damian Kuich when Jin Wook Jo was about to bat. Kabur is sponsored by Bridge Capital.

Kuich walked Jo to put runners at first and second base but bounced back afterwards when he struck out Jae for the second out. He then walked Jin Taek Lim to load the bases then gave up a triple to Han.

Kim replaced Lim, with one out and Kabur scoring three runs, in the bottom of the second when Efraim was about to bat. He struck out the Kabur third baseman then walked Renguul before retiring Payton Sakuma.

Kim earned the win after allowing Kabur to two earned runs on one hit with 12 strikeouts and seven walks. He just forced Kabur to hit grounders, infield and fly balls, and line drives.

Bobai was the lone Kabur batter that managed to challenge the Komoro pitchers going 3-for-4 with two runs, a triple, and an RBI.

Defending champion Tanapag Falcons will try to keep pace with league-leading Rock Steady when they battle the San Roque D9ers, which suffered a 3-16 beating from Rock Steady last Friday, in today’s 6:30pm game.