Pirates, Dodgers continue Masters League domination

The Pirates and Dodgers have won consecutive games in the 2023 Tan Holdings-SBL Masters League as they routed their foes last Tuesday and Wednesday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.

Pirates, still on top of the league, won their seventh straight after their game against the Reds, 14-1, last Tuesday.

The lone run scored by the Reds came in the first inning by their leadoff batter, Justin Reyes. After that, their bats were silenced by Pirates’ pitcher J.J. Laniyo. While the Reds struggled at the plate by going down in order until the last inning of the shortened game, the Pirates plundered all the runs they could.

Four runs came in the first inning from the top of the lineup to the fourth batter, then the third inning saw a bombardment at home plate with 10 runs.

Pirates’ Peter Sablan went 2-for-3 at-bat, scored three runs, and had one RBI, while cleanup man Audie Maratita put up two-for-two at-bats, two runs, one RBI, and one double.

The second-best Dodgers are not so far behind with a 5-2 record after their win against the Marlins, 16-3, last Wednesday.

The Marlins trickled in their three runs over the course of three innings by way of John Terlaje, Manny Villagomez, and John Taitano, while the Dodgers went big in almost all the innings.

Five scored in the first, then seven in the second for a 12-2 lead. Marlins pitcher Ben Duenas couldn’t catch a break as the Dodgers’ top of the lineup, which included James Benavente, Derek Aguon, and Robert Bansil, scored three more for a huge 15-3 lead.

By the fourth inning, the Marlins spent all their energy and couldn’t make meaningful contact anymore, while the Dodgers’ Ed Manibusan scored the final run.

The Reds are at an even 3-3; the Marlins at 2-5; the Blue Jays still 2-4; and the Spartans at 0-5.