[sixcol_five_last]

By Robert Balajadia

Venue Smokeys Joey Blas delivers a pitch to the Athletics. (photo by Jose Perez)

The Bank of Guam Athletics extend their impressive winning streak to six games after defeating the Venue Smokey’s 11-4 Tuesday night in the Budweiser Baseball League.

The Smokey’s managed grab a big lead on the Athletics when they last met early in the season where the A’s stormed a comeback to win the game. BOG made sure not to trail this time around, getting off to a fast start.

The Smokey’s used a sixth inning spurt to come as close as 7-3 but the Athletics responded in the final two innings, ending the game on a 4-1 run to seal the win.

BOG jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first inning and managed to keep the Smokey’s scoreless through five complete innings.  Athletics Gerald Santos set the third inning off with a double which set up shop for a sac fly from teammate Sean Cruz to bring in a run.  Ignacio Aldan cashed in another run for BOG to extend the lead to 7-0 in the third.

Athletics shortstop Don Juan Franquez looks for a call from the umpire but JR Hattig was safe on the play. (photo by Jose Perez)

The lead was maintained until the bottom of the sixth inning where Smokey’s Shane Tenorio was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score the teams first points.

Matt Fernandez added to the run with an RBI single to pull within 7-2.  The Smokey’s were able to add another run before the inning ended to pull within four, 7-3.

BOG came into the eight inning determined to close the game out with their first three at-bats getting base hits by Aldan, Paul Pangelinan, and Ryan Martinez.

Then the Athletics turned to Mike Bautista, who has really come on of late for BOG, who knocked in a two-run single while an error allowed all three runners to score in while Bautista took third.

The play from Bautista squashed the momentum the Smokey’s had, allowing only one run in the final inning to close out the game.

The Athletics improve to 8-2 with the win while the Smokey’s drop to 3-7, trying to avoid the bottom spot.

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Athletics Mike Bautista is safe at 3rd after driving in three runs in the bottom of the 8th. (photo by Jose Perez)

Athletics Don Juan Franquez gets the pop fly to end the inning. (photo by Jose Perez)

Athletics Gerald Santos is out to end the A’s run in the bottom of the 8th. (photo by Jose Perez)

“A great night for a baseball game.” (photo by Jose Perez)

Athletics pitcher Roke Alcantara Jr. winding up. (photo by Jose Perez)

[fblike url=”http://www.gspnlive.com/baseball/bog-extends-streak-to-six/” style=”button_count” showfaces=”false” width=”450″ verb=”like” font=”arial”]

[/sixcol_five_last]

[fbshare url=”http://www.gspnlive.com/baseball/bog-extends-streak-to-six/”]