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Falcons slip past Tigers
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Posted on May 12 2009
Tanapag Falcons escaped the Tigers’ claw, pulling off an 8-6 win in their game in the 2009 Budweiser Saipan Major League Friday night at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.
The Falcons leaned on a three-run top of the eighth to work their way back from a 5-6 deficit and played tough defense in three successive innings to secure the win
The Bob O’Conner Tigers scored two runs apiece in the first and third inning and one each in the fourth and sixth for a 6-5 lead.
Jason Hayes, who relieved Ed Santos in the fourth inning, struck out the first two batters at the bottom of the seventh and third batter B.J. Sablan was beaten to first, helping the Tigers keep the lead for the last time.
J.R. Suel led off for the Falcons at the top of the eighth, walked, advanced to second and third on Tigers’ errors, and reached home plate on a Nunu Kapileo single.
Suel’s run tied the game at 6-all and designated hitter Mike Pangelinan broke the deadlock, scoring on another Tigers’ error. Kapileo later made it 8-6, as Lawrence Dikito’s sacrifice fly to centerfield drove him to home plate. Henry Iguel and Jess Taitano were beaten to second and third base in the ensuing plays, ending the Falcons’ rally.
The Tigers were done after only three innings at the bottom of the eight, while the Falcons failed to increase their lead at the top of the last inning, as the best they could do was have Pangelinan at third base.
At the bottom of the third, catcher Mike Muna gave the Tigers a good start with his single, but was later beaten to second base. The Tigers were called for the second out with shortstop Reno Celis flying out to second base. Falcons pitcher Pete Teigita walked third batter Dave Kapileo, keeping the Tigers’ hopes alive. But not for long, as designated hitter Manny Tenorio was beaten to first.
Kapileo was perfect at the plate for the Falcons, hitting 5-for-5. He had one RBI and scored three runs. Pangelinan recorded three runs and was 4-for-5 at the plate.
Justin Reyes and Dave Kapileo both went 3-for-5 for the Tigers with the former making three runs and the latter adding one. Celis scored the Tigers’ two other runs.
