Red Sox boost bid for last finals berth

A Red Sox batter watches a high pitch from the Braves during the top of the first inning of their playoff game in the Junior League division of the SLLB last Monday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Red Sox remained in contention for the last finals berth in the Junior League division of the 2016 Saipan Little League Baseball after defeating the Braves, 10-7, in their playoff game last Monday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

A four-run top of the seventh inning keyed the Red Sox’ victory as the game was still tied, 6-6, before the eventual winners made the move. Orren Cruz blasted a two-run single in the pivotal inning where the Red Sox got two more runs off a fielder’s choice and the Braves’ error.

An RBI single from Joe Tudela at the bottom of the seventh with only one out kept the Braves in the game and they had a chance to move closer as Tudela eventually moved to second and third batter Vicente Camacho was at third. However, Red Sox closer Henry Fleming fanned out Josenio Alvarez and Cruz caught a fly ball from Philip Kapileo, leaving the two Braves runners stranded and ending the latter’s season.

With the Braves out, it will be the Red Sox and the Enforcers who will battle for the remaining finals berth this Saturday with the winner challenging pennant champions Falcons in Sunday’s title match. The Falcons booked the first finals ticket after beating the Enforcers, 2-0, last Monday.

The Red Sox and Braves finished third and fourth, respectively, behind the Falcons and Enforcers in the four-round regular season. The Braves took a 3-2 lead at the start of their win-or-go-home match against the Red Sox behind the two-run single of Kapileo and Jordan Babauta’s run off a fielder’s choice. The Red Sox’s, on the other hand, got their two runs from Dai Podziewski’s RBI single and run off the Braves miscues at home plate.

The Braves clung to the shaky lead until the third inning before a four-run top of the fourth, highlighted by Jared Reyes’ two-run single put the Red Sox on top, 6-3. Reyes also reached off the Braves’ error at third base, while Podziewski’s added another RBI single to double up the Braves.

The Braves then countered with three runs—a RBI single from Anthony Dizon and two runs off the Red Sox’ defensive lapses—at the bottom of the fifth inning to force the deadlock. Neither team scored in the sixth inning before the Red Sox went on target in the last to oust the Braves.

Meanwhile, in a make-up game in the Big League last Monday, the Yankees nosed out the Islanders, 6-5.

After struggling in the fifth inning, closer Roke Tenorio threw a one-hitter in the last two and shut down the Islanders to hand the Yankees the tough win.

Tenorio came in for Verlance Secharmidal at the bottom of the fifth with the Yankees ahead, 6-2, and gave up a hit and walked two while his wild pitches allowed the Islanders to score twice. The Islanders added another run off the Yankees’ booboo to move within one.

A 1-2-3 inning in the sixth, kicked off by Tenorio’s pick up and throw to first base kept the Yankees’ slim lead and they went on to preserve the win after capping the last inning with a double play.