The RP Blu Boys gave up two home runs, bowing to the Dominican Republic, 2-5, in their 18th WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup Group stage opener on Thursday morning (Manila time) at the Estadio Mundialistas Hermosillenses in Mexico.
The Philippines, coached by Jasper Cabrera, started 0-1 in Group A, which also includes defending champion Australia, Venezuela, Czechia, and host country Mexico.
The Blu Boys will look to rebound tomorrow at 9 a.m. (Manila time) against Australia, which fell to Venezuela in its first game, 0-7.
Juan Arias got the scoring going for the Dominicans in the top of the second inning with a solo homer to deep left-center against 18-year-old Filipino starting pitcher Jehanz Coro, making it 1-0.
But it was in the top of the fourth inning that the Dominican Republic created a bigger separation as Yoel De Mota brought Arias and Wilton Robles home with a two-run double for a 3-0 lead.
Then Pablo Figuereo went yard with a rocket to right-center that also sent De Mota home, making it 5-0.
However, chances were aplenty for the Nationals. It was just a matter of sending the runners on base home.
The Blu Boys got their first run on a Justine Rosales double, pushing Mark Gaspi to score, 1-5, but Norwen Lucas was caught at home trying to follow Gaspi.
Rosales, who reached third, failed to score despite the team having only one out as Denmark Bathan and Israel Antonio both struck out.
The Philippines had its biggest opportunity in the sixth inning after Lucas’ single delivered Gaspi home, making it 2-5.
An ensuing single by Rosales and a walk by Antonio loaded the bases with just one out, giving Kobe Torres a golden opportunity, but he grounded into a double play.
It was an outstanding effort in the pitcher’s circle for Yan Carlos Gonzales, allowing six hits but only giving up one run. He also struck out 13 Filipino batters.
The Blu Boys actually had more hits than their Dominican foes, 9-7, with Lucas, Rosales, and Gaspi getting two apiece in three at-bats.
Coro, who is half the age of Gonzales at 36, allowed five hits and five runs but struck out seven in his four innings pitched.
The top two teams after the single round-robin will play for a spot in the World Cup Finals to be held in Canada in July 2025.
The loser will play the winner of the third-place playoff for the repechage, in which the victorious team will also clinch a ticket to the Finals.
The Lines:
TEAM 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
DOM 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 – 5 7 0
PHI 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 – 2 9 1
