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Rock Steady remains perfect with 5-run 8th
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Posted on Jun 10 2008
Rock Steady flirted with disaster before erupting for five runs in the bottom of the eighth to beat Komoro, 6-1, and remained perfect in the 2008 Budweiser Saipan Major League last Monday at the Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field.
After Rock Steady’s John Mafnas and Komoro’s Kim Hyung Joo combined to pitch a beauty in the game’s first seven and a half innings, the league leader’s batters finally awoke and pummeled Kim in the penultimate inning.
It started when Toni Celis drove in Tyrone Omar on a sacrifice fly. Martin Pangelinan then raced home on a two-bagger by Manny Sablan.
Rock Steady’s catcher then reached home on another double, this time by Roy Celis, who shortly thereafter was also brought in by Ed Manibusan.
Oliver Secharmidal then drove in the final RBI of the game when he scored Manibusan on a single.
Mafnas’ reliever put the finishing touches in Rock Steady’s Johnny-come-lately win when he struck out Kim Su Lee, Jung Hoon Tae, and Hong in quick succession in the top of the ninth inning.
This after surrendering a leadoff double to Kim Hyung Joo, who wound up stranded in third base.
Kim Hyung Joo started like a house on fire from the mound, retiring Omar, Dane Lizama, and Celis 1-2-3 in the very first inning.
Mafnas matched Kim’s power and control by ending the first also without much damage despite beaning Kim and seeing Kim Jae Young advance to second on an error by Byron Kaipat.
Rock Steady finally scored when Manny Sablan crossed home plate on a miscue by Komoro’s rightfielder Han Jin Kwan.
Komoro would retaliate in the third when Kim Hyung Joo brought in Cho Jun Ju on a single to make it 1-1. That score would stay the same as both starting pitchers buckled down to work until Rock Steady’s batters finally figured out Komoro’s ace in the eighth.
The loss was the eighth in 12 games for Komoro.
Manny Sablan went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI for Rock Steady. Manibusan, Pangelinan, and Celis also drove in a run each in the win. Starting pitcher Kim went 1-for 4 for Komoro.
