BANGKOK – The Philippine men’s baseball team escaped past host Thailand, 8-7, in a thrilling 10-inning Wednesday affair that served as a preview of their title showdown in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games at the Queen Sirikit Baseball Stadium in Pathum Thani.
A throwing error at home plate with one out and the bases loaded allowed Bong Liguayan and Gio Gorpido to score the tying and winning runs as the Filipino batters walked it off to stay unbeaten with a 5-0 record.
Thailand dropped to second place at 4-1. The two teams are assured of facing off for the gold on Friday.
Both squads have a game to spare on Thursday, with the Philippines facing Laos at 10 a.m. local time (11 a.m. Manila time) and Thailand battling winless Malaysia at 2 p.m. (3 p.m.).
The Philippines squandered a chance to win the game in the bottom of the ninth and tied 6-6 with one out and the bases loaded as Paulo Macasaet grounded to a double play that forced an extra inning.
Thailand would take the lead in the top half of the 10th after Petsunthad Phuttabut scored on a throwing error.
The Philippines opened the bottom of the 10th with Liguayan and Paulo Macasaet as ghost runners on second and first under extra-inning rules.
Liguayan and Macasaet advanced to third on John Matanguihan’s sacrifice bunt for the first out, before Liam de Vera drew a walk to make the bases full.
Gorpido pinch-run for Macasaet before Erwin Bosito grounded to Thailand third baseman Alexander Clark, whose throw to the catcher was wayward, allowing the Philippines to take the win. (PR)
