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By Patrick Lujan

A’s catcher Mike Bautista: 3-for-5, 2 HR, 7 RBI

Bank of Guam’s Mike Bautista pulled off a feat rarely seen on Guam.

Bautista smashed a grand slam, a three-run homer and a double for the A’s in a batter’s dream night, leading his second place team to a 13-4 win over the Saipan Cyclones Thursday night in the BBL at Paseo Stadium.

After popping out in his first at-bat, the A’s catcher stepped up with the bases full in the bottom of the second inning facing Saipan starter Joe Terlaje.

“They had no where to put me so they had to pitch to me,” said the 23-year-old Mangilao resident. “I was just looking for a good pitch to hit and something sweet in my zone.”

Boy, was it in his zone as he crushed a fastball over the left field wall. The slam broke a 3-3 tie.

After hitting a one-out double in the fourth that caused no harm, Bautista was feeling it.

Stepping up with two runners on in the fifth, the University of Portland graduate was swinging for the proverbial fences. Facing a 3-0 count, Bautista took a big swing and a miss, falling to the ground and earning the laughter from his A’s teammates.

The A’s Rick Hernandez gets out of the way from this wild pitch Thurday against the Cyclones. (photo by Jose Perez)

“I told my team I genuflected and made the sign of the cross,” Bautista said jokingly. “I took a big swing on 3-0 and missed. They came back with a curveball and I hit that out.

“It was pretty embarrassing so I just wanted to redeem myself.”

The three-run shot gave Bautista seven RBI on the night and capped off the scoring.

The two home runs by the 2008 FD alum gives him three dingers on the season and takes over the Smokey’s JR Hattig(2) for the league lead.

It is Bautista’s first year back home after four years in college, where he played a little over a year for the Portland Pilots. He grounded out to third in his final at-bat.

Saipan first baseman Ryan Lisua gets the full extension on this infield routine play. (photo by Jose Perez)

The A’s win their fifth straight game to improve to 7-2 while snapping the Cyclones two-game win streak, dropping Saipan to 3-7 and hurting their chances at a playoff berth.

Rick Fernandez took the win on the mound for the Bank. He added four strikeouts to his season total of 18, good enough for third in the league behind the Jr, Nationals’ Jesse Miner (20) and the Cougars John McDonald (19).

Ryan Martinez helped the offense going 3-for-4 and scored three times.

DJ Cruz, Randy Alcantara and Ignacio Aldan all added a pair of hits for the A’s.

Saipan’s Jordan Mongami was 3-for-5 and Fofo Santos went 2-for-5 with a double.

TEAM               WINS     LOSS     %     GAMES BACK     STREAK
Braves                8          0       1000     —–             8 wins
BOG                   7          2        777         1.5               5 wins
Cardinals           5          3        625          3                 1 loss
Phillies              4          4         500         4                 2 loss
Jr Nationals       3          5         375         5                 2 loss

Smokeys           3          6         333        4.5               1 win
Saipan              3           7        300         5                 1 loss
Cougars           2           8        200         6                 1 loss

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