Rangers wrangle Masters in blowout

The Ford Rangers of the Saipan Major League cruised to their second win of the season on the arm of starting pitcher Ed Diaz and an overwhelming display of offense, as they shot down the Freedom Air Masters 23-1 in a mercy-rule shortened contest Wednesday night at Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field.

Pitching was the story of the game, and the Rangers had plenty of gas in their young arms to make the difference in the contest. Diaz threw four strong innings in which he allowed one run and no hits while striking out eight of the Masters.

The run that marred Diaz’s clean slate was scored through a well-executed double steal call from the dugout.

By the time reliever Roy Celis came into the game, the Rangers had already compiled a 14-1 lead, but the Rocket was throwing heat, allowing just one hit in three scoreless innings. Celis fanned two batters, picked off a base runner late in the game for good measure, and yielded two walks.

On the batting side of the fence, right fielder J.J. Laniyo led the charge for the Rangers with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate with four consecutive singles, three runs scored, and a pair of runs batted in, while teammate Pete Tomokane was a solid 3-for-5 with a pair of singles, a triple, four runs scored, and five runs batted in.

Designated hitter Joey Dela Cruz went 1-for-4 with the stick, but managed three ribbies for the Rangers through five innings.

The Rangers scored 23 runs off of 17 hits through seven innings in the win that put them in sole possession of first place, but they were aided by a rash of fielding miscues that plagued the cagey veterans.

Eight errors, three wild pitches, and a past ball didn’t help the Masters’ cause, but the experienced ballers had to shake some of the rust from their game, and this was their first of the 2005 season.

Designated hitter Nick Guerrero recorded the team’s first hit in the bottom of the fifth inning when he singled off of Celis, but it was a double steal by shortstop Reno Celis and catcher Mike Muna that allowed Celis to cross the plate for the Masters.

SML action continues tonight when the San Antonio Metropolitans (0-1) challenge the defending champion Miller Lite Brewers (0-1) under the lights of Palacios Field at 6:30pm.