Tanapag pound Pirates, 10-3

The defending champions of the Saipan Major League Fall session are still without a win as the Pirates lost their second game of the season against the Tanapag Braves, 10-3, under the lights at Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field.

There was little for the Pirates to be happy about in their one-sided loss to the Braves last Friday night as they only managed two hits through nine innings, and those hits came off of the bats of Tanapag natives Jeremiah “J Boy” Guerrero and Pete Teigita.

Even worse for the Pirates was that they were walked 13 times during the contest and still scored just a pair of runs in the contest, but the same could not be said for the offensively stable Braves squad.

Shortstop Sato Manalo came within just one of the SML record as the youngster went 5-for-5 at the plate with a string of singles and a pair of runs batted in, including the eventual game winner.

Manalo drove in Jordan Suel and B.J. Sablan with a single in the bottom of the third to give the Braves a 4-0 lead and eventually stole a base and scored three times to lead his team offensively.

Third baseman Nunu Kapileo was also a contributor with a pair of base knocks and a run batted in while right fielder Clint Quitugua went 1-for-2 with a stolen base, a single, and two ribbies.

Starting pitcher Kelly Helliaw allowed two runs without a hit, fanned five, and walked seven through 4 1/3 innings on the hill before handing the ball off to middle reliever Jess Norita.

Norita didn’t last as long, as he allowed retired a pair of batters, gave up a run, and walked four through 2/3 innings before McGregory Camacho was called in to close the game in the top of the sixth after Norita walked the first three batters he faced.

Camacho looked to be in mid-season form as he struck out three, walked two, and surrendered two hits in the final four innings to get the Braves into the win column for the first time this season.

The Braves scored a pair in both the first and second innings to take a 4-0 lead the stood until the Pirates rallied with two runs in the top of the fifth to cut the lead in half. The teams traded runs in their next at bats before the Braves scored three in the bottom of the sixth to take an 8-3 advantage.

Tanapag added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh to increase their lead to 10-3, and the Pirates were unable to mount a comeback to lose their second game in as many trips to the ballpark.