Phl nine sinks Thais, WS veteran

MANILA, Philippines - Johnny Damon, who won two World Series crowns and hit 235 homeruns in 17 seasons with the Major League, couldn’t lift Thailand past the Philippines in the World Baseball Classic qualifier.

The Philippines went on to score an impressive 8-2 win yesterday at the Xinzhuang Stadium in Taipei, and boosted its chances of reaching the eliminations proper in Japan in March next year.

The Filipinos were up 4-1 in the fifth when Damon, the designated hitter who won the World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2004 and New York Yankees in 2009, came to plate with runners on first and second bases.

But the Thai-American who had stints with the Kansas City Royals, Oakland As, Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Indians from 1995 to 2012 popped out against UP standout Vladimir Eguia.

Team Phl, backstopped by a number of Fil-Ams, coasted the rest of the way to earn the victory that set them up for a tough and crucial match with Chinese-Taipei today.

Also competing in the double-elimination play is New Zealand. The lone winner will advance to the first round of eliminations of the World Baseball Classic in Fukuoka.

“We’re very happy with the victory,” said Phl team manager Jim Ramos.

Jon Jon Robles of Santo Tomas, who had a stint in the Czech Republic pro league, held on after allowing the first run of the game, yielding only five hits and striking out four batters in 4 1/3 innings.

The Philippines fielded four pitchers, including former San Francisco Giants Geno Espinelli who struck out two batters in the ninth and last inning.

The Philippines outhit the Thais, 12-7, behind the hot hands of Fil-American Ryan Pineda and homegrown talent Fernando Laurel with three hits each.

Minor Leaguers Alec Rosales and Andres Vasquez delivered two hits apiece. But what made it easier for the Filipinos were the seven errors committed by the Thais, the 2007 SEA Games champions.