The Sheriff watches one of his homeruns in the right field stands.
QUEZON CITY —
Magtanggol Sagal spent much of his two-week honeymoon in America this off-season finding fields where he could practice his pitching -- and he nearly broke his wife's foot one day while she was catching him.
``We were lucky she didn't have to go to the doctor,'' Sagal said.
All the extra work has made a difference, even if his wife, Trisha, wasn't all for it at the time. Sagal had a spectacular spring training and pitched 7 strong innings in his first start of the season as the Quezon City United beat the Davao Winds 6-3 Thursday night.
Ysmael “The Sheriff” Aragon homered twice and drove in five runs, after going 1-for-10 in his first three games.
Aragon has 6 RBIs now, exhibiting everything general manager
Pat Garde liked about him when the United drafted the slugger first overall pick.
``It's early in the season,'' Aragon said. ``I've got to keep focused on the rest of the season. A season is so up and down.''
Jilenko Saranillo also homered and
Edilberto Pecson had a double among his two hits for the United, who did not get a hit from their bottom four batters in the order.
``We didn't pressure Sagal the way we needed to,'' Winds manager
Efren Wichman said. ``Magtanggol pitched a heck of a game against us. I know he's battled some arm trouble this spring, but it looked like his fastball was crisp and he changed speeds well.''
Sagal (1-0) escaped a jam in the first with runners on second and third and didn't have to work deep into the count against many batters.
Sagal made some tweaks to his delivery and mechanics in the offseason -- including eight workouts in Florida and California-- that he hopes will carry him to success in 2003. He gave up two runs and six hits with three strikeouts and one walk.
Jaicus Rondez got three outs for his second save.
Argaon homered to right in the first, chasing Davao starter
Gorgonio Abaya (0-1).
Abaya, who allowed 15 earned runs in 24 innings during spring training, gave up six runs on eight hits in five-plus innings. He struck out four and walkedfive.
``My command wasn't all that horrible, but my stuff was kind of flat,'' Abaya said. ``When you pitch against these guys, that can be extremely dangerous.''
Player of the Game:
Ysmael Aragon
(2-for-3, 2 HR, 5 RBI)
Pat's thought on the game:
Amazing. The Sheriff played well. He is really the best player in the PBL.