Filipino batters suffer costly loss

The Philippines’ bid for a spot in the Super Round took a major blow after absorbing an 8-15 loss to China in the 20th Asian Games at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Baseball Stadium.

The defeat dropped Hataw Pilipinas’ record  to 1-1 in Group B, leaving it in a must-win situation against hosts Japan on Wednesday at the Toyohashi Municipal Baseball Stadium to keep its Super Round hopes alive.

A loss to the Japanese will send the Philippines to the placement round, where fifth place would be the highest it could achieve.

With one out and a chance to limit the damage after China scored the game’s opening run in the second inning, Amiel de Guzman could not close out the frame.

De Guzman lost the strike zone and issued back-to-back walks, with the second forcing in Luan Chenchen to give China a 2-0 lead.

Wang Lei then drove in two more runs with a single past a diving John Matanguihan, bringing home Fu Wenlong and Wang Lizi and ending De Guzman’s stint on the mound.

Francis Gonzaga took over in relief but gave up a triple down the right-field line to his first batter faced, Zhou Yi, who brought home two more runs to stretch China’s lead to 6-0.

The Philippines finally mounted a response in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs to cut the deficit to 3-6.

Bong Liguayan delivered an opposite-field, two-RBI double before a throwing error by shortstop Wang Lizi allowed another run to score.

Ivan Suing