Patriots hold off Tigers

Manila, Philippines - Jeff Hardillo hit three RBIs while Ka Sulhay Argel went three-of-four at-bat as Taguig scored an 11-8 victory over Alabang to enhance its semifinal bid in Baseball Philippines Series 8 at the Parade Grounds in Clark Field, Pampanga yesterday.

The Patriots led 8-4 after five innings then defused the Tigers’ fightback in the last four frames to gain a one-game lead in their battle for the fourth and last berth in the semis.

Taguig improved to 3-5 while dealing Alabang its sixth loss against two wins in the tournament organized by Community Sports Inc. and sponsored by Gatorade and Rawlings.

Argel tripled with two outs in the fifth, scoring Christian Paul de Leon, who earlier reached first base on an error, for an 8-4 Taguig lead.

The Tigers rallied with three runs in the eighth as Marco Martinez drilled a one-out RBI single, scoring Julius Visayas.