Falcons survive D9ers test

Defending champion Tanapag Falcons survived its very first acid test in the 3rd Annual Budweiser-Saipan Major League, escaping with a 10-inning 12-11 win over the San Roque D9ers on Wednesday at the Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field.

The win, the fourth in as many games for the YCO Corp.-backed team, kept the back-to-back title-seeking Falcons within striking distance of league-leading Rock Steady’s 5-0 record.

The loss was the third and second straight against two wins for the D9ers of manager Chel Castro as they fell two games behind fourth place Ford Rangers in the standings.

The Falcons were trailing, 11-10, after 8 1/2 innings and the D9ers only need three outs to snap the defending champs’ 10-game winning run, which dates back from last year’s playoffs, and hand them their first loss this season.

Jay Camacho led off the bottom of the ninth with a triple off relief pitcher Leeroy Dela Cruz to put the tying run 90-feet away from home plate.

Dela Cruz bounced back after that striking out Ken Kalen then forced Sid Sablan to an infield fly to move the D9ers one out away from ending the game.

J.R. Suel, however, did not give up that easily and connected on a single to allow Camacho touch home plate to tie the game. Suel moved to second on a pass ball but the Falcons’ chances of winning ended when Ned Norita popped out to first baseman Greg Camacho to send the game into an extra inning.

Roy Magofna, who came in the top of the ninth when Paul Camacho was about to bat, worked his magic in the 10th forcing John Tenorio to an infield fly then gave up a single to Ben Mesa, who moved to second on an error.

Magofna then forced Dela Cruz to fly-out to left field and struck out Larry Tenorio to end the inning.

It was Dela Cruz’s chance to keep the D9ers’ hopes alive in the bottom of the 10th and he quickly got the first two outs, forcing Mike Pangelinan to fly-out to center field while J.D. Dikito grounded out.

But his luck ended when slugger B.J. Sablan singled then Falcons manager Doru Camacho made an offensive change when he brought in the speedy Henry Iguel to pinch run for Sablan.

Manager Camacho’s substitution paid off when Iguel reached second on an error and scored the winning run on a Jay Camacho RBI single to preserve their winning streak.

Jay Camacho and Dikito only combined for 3-for-12 but were able to drive in six runs. Camacho also had a triple and scored three times. Pangelinan and Suel combined for 4-for-8 with four runs with the latter having an RBI while Kalen went 3-for-6 with one run.

Today’s game will have the Rangers clashing with the Korean Dreams at 6:30pm.