Braves dump A’s in Majors

The AA Ent./TCC World Braves of Tanapag pulled off the necessary stops before coasting to a 17-8 win over the Tan Holdings Athletics A’s in Thursday’s Majors division game in the Saipan Little League at the Miguel Basa “Tan Ge” Pangelinan Field.

Lefty J.J. Lifoifoi earned the win despite nearly allowing the A’s to comeback in the game. He lasted three innings and threw 75 pitches giving up six earned runs on four hits with two strikeouts and seven walks.

He needed 49 pitches just to get out of a bases-loaded jam in the third inning where the A’s scored six runs to close in at 10-7.

John Rey Gilles had a lead off walk in the bottom of the third and moved to second on a Gregorio Muna walk. Gilles was caught on a 1-5 putout play when he tried to steal third base.

Larry Guerrero had a fielder’s choice while Davin Ada lined up a single in a gap between the second base a centerfield to load up the bases.

Lifoifoi then forced Jacob Tomokane to an infield fly, which he caught for the second out.

Lifoifoi then gave up three straight RBI walks to Gregory Attao, Max Castro, and David Muna as the A’s scored three runs in that stretch. Roger Renguul allowed Attao and Castro touch home plate when he ripped an RBI single to left field.

Muna added one more when he scored on an error by third baseman Nick Junior Jones.

Lifoifoi then struck out Muna, with runners at the corner, in his second at bat in the same inning for the third out.

Frankie Lieto pitched three innings in relief surrendering one earned run on four hits with two strikeouts and three walks.

Ricky Joe Rengiil led the Braves’ 17-for-36 batting going 2-for-4 scoring four runs, a triple, and two RBIs. Lieto went 2-for-5 with one run, a triple, and three RBIs.

Jones and Roy Tudela combined for 6-for-9 in batting with three runs and three RBIs. Jones also had a double and a triple. Lifoifoi went 3-for-5 with two runs.

Lucio Kalen was held to a 1-for-2 batting but ripped a two-run inside-the-park home run in the top of the third to go with his two runs and three RBIs.

Muna pitched three innings for the A’s to earn the loss after giving up eight earned runs on 10 hits fanning four and walking five batters.

Ada pitched three innings in relief, allowing five earned runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and two walks. He also batted 3-for-4 with two runs scored while Renguul went 2-for-2 with two RBIs.