PRESS RELEASE – The Agat Mayor’s Office Cardinals and Sakudee both came into Thursday’s game in the Leo Palace/Jim Beam Amateur Baseball League action looking for their first wins.  In a thriller and after three lead changes in the last three innings Sakudee would push a run across in the bottom of the 7th inning for the walk off 9-8 win.

Sakudee would jump out to 1-0 lead off Cardinal’s starter Austin Sablan with a run in the 1st inning as Brandon Santos would single and come in to score on a wild pitch.  The Cardinals would tie the game up in the top of the 2nd inning with an rbi single from John Santos scoring Chad Daniel who reached on a hit by pitch by Sakudee starter Pat Sablan.

In the bottom of the 3rd inning Sakudee would take advantage of a Cardinals error and a two rbi double by Roman Blas to score two unearned run.  They would continue to rally in the 4th inning with Cliff Palomo leading off with a single and scoring on a sac fly from Brandon Santos.  Craig Palomo would follow with a triple and Matt Batt Barcinas would drive him in with a two out single giving Sakudee a 5-1 lead after 4 innings.

The AMO Cardinals offense continued to chip away in the top of the 5th inning with Jerry Nauta singling and coming around to score on a Brian Bunag single cutting the Sakudee lead to 5-2.  Sakudee centerfielder Vic Villagomez would make a nice sliding catch in center to help end the Cardinals rally in the 5th inning.

The Cardinals would come right back in the top of the 6th inning taking advantage of two Sakudee errors to put up five runs and take a 7-5 lead.  Singles from Joey Cruz, Brian Bunag and Matt Charfourus help pace the rally.

Down for the first time in the game, Sakudee would have an answer of their own in the bottom of the 6th inning.  Brandon Santos would single and Matt Barcinas would walk before Jarret Barcinas would single to cut the Cardinal’s lead to one.  Ben Borja would then line a ball down the right field line past the diving right field for a 2 rbi triple to give Sakudee back the lead 8-7.

The fun was just getting started with Sakudee taking a one run lead into the top of the 7th inning.  The Cardinals John Santos would hustle out a ground ball and reach on error to give the Cardinal’s a chance.  With two outs Austin Sablan would line a single to left scoring Santos and tying up the game again for the 3rd lead change in three innings.

But it was to be Sakudee’s night in the bottom of the 7th inning.  Leadoff hitter Vic Villagomez would walk to get on against Cardinal’s reliever Vince Santos and come in to score on a Brandon Santos fly ball that was misplayed and Sakudee would come back to take the 9-8 walk off win.

Sakudee’s Roman Blas picks up SZ Player of the Game honors reaching base four times with a double and three walks and two rbi.  Candido Dootch Naputi III comes in for relief for Sakudee and picks up the win.  Brian Bunag had a three hit night for the Cardinals and Vince Santos gets the loss as the Cardinals fall to 0-2 on the season.

Leo Palace/Jim Beam Amateur Baseball League action continues every Tuesday and Thursday at 7pm and three games each Saturday and Sunday at 12pm, 3pm and 6pm.  Follow the action live with the IT&E live in game updates on Facebook/AmateurBaseball Guam and on our website www.guamstrikezone.com.