Jose Lizama shuts-out Bears, 8-0

Bandits pitcher Jose Lizama put up a dominant performance on the mound and shut out the Bears to win, 8-0 in the 2024 Saipan Baseball League last Tuesday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.

The Bandits’ bats assisted their pitcher who was cooking up something special as they scored two in the first inning. Although they couldn’t round the bases in the second, Jon Wilson, Franko Nakamura, and Tindin Leon Guerrero made it home safely to bring them up, 5-0.

The Bears tried to get something going as Anthony Dizon got a hit into the centerfield. However, he was gunned down by a speedy Bandits center fielder at third base after he tried to extend his double into a triple. That was about the only scare that Lizama had from the Bears as he got out of the inning without giving up any runs.

In the fourth and fifth, Bears pitcher Kaipo Dikito managed to hold down the Bandits and keep them at five runs. But the Bears offense couldn’t get going with Lizama dominating the strike zone and inducing out after out.

The Bandits went on to score two more in the sixth after Niko Martin and Leon Guerrero got on base. Then Ton Leon Guerrero submitted their eighth run in the seventh and sealed their first win, 8-0, after the Bears went scoreless throughout.

Last Monday, the Padres blew out the Blue Jays, 16-1, in a run-mercy ruled game. Then last Tuesday, D-9ers handed the Natives their second loss in an 8-4 final.