Brewers leapfrog Rangers into 2nd place

The Miller Lite Brewers climbed into second place in the Saipan Major League standings when they downed the Ford Rangers to earn their league-leading eighth win on a rainy Monday night at the Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field in Oleai.

Only the most faithful fans were on hand during the dreary conditions as the Brewers scored eight runs off of 12 hits to improve their record to 8-2 despite being out-hit by the Rangers, who smacked 14.

After taking a 4-0 lead in the top of the third inning, the Brewers blew it by allowing the Rangers to roar to life in the bottom of the fourth with a five-run rally that gave them a one-run advantage midway through the contest.

The Brew crew bounced back with a run to tie the game in their next at bat, and regained the lead in the top of the sixth while their pitching staff handled the league’s third-best hitting team the rest of the way.

The league’s leading hitter continued to show why he reigns supreme, as third baseman Tony Celis went 3-for-4 for the Brewers, and raised his league best stats in both doubles (seven) and runs batted in (23). The hits broke the tie between Celis and Palacios for the league’s top batting average, as the Brewers’ slugger improved to 26-for-50 on the season with a .520 BA.

The Brewers hit parade continued with the likes of Manny Sablan and Dane Lizama, as the catcher went 2-for-5 with a pair of singles and his 12th run batted in of the season (2nd), while Lizama went 2-for-5 with a pair of singles and two runs batted in that raised his total to 11 (3rd).

First baseman Jester Garcia went 2-for-5 as well with two base hits, but his biggest contribution was a grounder to short in the top of the sixth inning that scored Frances George for the eventual game-winning run.

George only added one hit to his season total, but it was a doozie, as he drove in Celis and Mel Teregeyo in the top of the seventh for a little insurance.

Brewers ace Jonathan suffered his worst outing of the season, as the Rangers chased him from the mound after three and a third innings amidst a five-run, four-hit fourth inning before reliever Frank Hocog came into the game to save the day.

Despite playing in a one-run hole, Hocog performed at the top of his game by pitching the remaining five and two-thirds without allowing a run, and spreading out eight hits harmlessly.

Camacho’s time on the mound added to his league-leading total innings atop the hill to 50 1/3, and he earned his unmatched 49th strikeout when he fanned Peter Tomokane in the bottom of the third.

Chris Nelson ran out of the Rangers dugout to pitch a complete game in the loss, and allowed eight runs off of 12 hits with eight strikeouts.