Rodel Hernandez watches his RBI double. It was a clutch hit, I'm loving Rodel.
QUEZON CITY -- As he run to second base, all
Rodel Hernandez could think about was that the game wasn't over.
``I felt great. But the bottom line was we had one more half-inning to get out of it,'' Hernandez said Tuesday night after his go-ahead RBI double in the 8th inning sent the
Quezon City United to a 9-8 victory over the
Davao Winds.
``I was fortunate to get a ball I could handle and hit out of the infield. Then, we went out there and shut the door. It was a big first win for us.''
Hernandez lined a 3-2 pitch into the left-field wall off loser
Wildemar Agne (0-1)
The Winds had the potential game-winning run in scoring position in the 9th inning but couldn't take the lead. United left fielder
Sherwin Parena caught the linedrive by
E.E. Basa to snatch their first ever win in the history.
``We had chances. So did they,'' Winds manager
Efren Wichman said. ``We battled and played hard. We just didn't get the big hit when we needed it.''
``They always say that first win of the year is always the toughest to get. I don't know if it can get much tougher than this,'' United manager
Artemio Ojeda said. ``We're glad to have that one behind us now so we can get going forward.''
Honesto Hidalgo (1-0), the fourth Quezon City pitcher, went an inning for the victory in what seemed to be the most thrilling game of the young season.
Edilberto Pecson drove in three runs for the United, two on a second-inning single that fell in front of leftfielder
Sherwin Escamillan, who took a step backward before realizing the ball wasn't hit that hard.
Quezon City starter
Jejomar Enrile allowed four runs and six hits in five innings before departing with a 6-4 lead. He struck out 10 in the process.
Closer
Jaicus Rondez (1st save) run into a lot of trouble but escaped a ninth inning bases loaded situation.
Notes:
Herson Macarandang was injured being hit by a pitch in the second inning.
Player of the Game:
Edilberto Pecson
(3 for 3, 3 RBI, 2 BB)
Pat's thought on the game: It was a thriller. Good way to earn our first win in our team history. Enrile struck out ten but our rather weak bullpen couldn't hold the lead. Thanks to our offense, they bailed them out. Good job, guys.