WITH a playoff spot already clinched, the 76 Cardinals were heading into last night’s Budweiser Baseball League matchup to take on the Saipan Cyclones in their last regular season game.

The Cardinals were looking to pick up a victory as a momentum builder as they prepare for the post-season. However, the Cyclones had other intentions as they held on to a slim 6-5 lead after eight complete innings of play.

Not wasting any time, the Cyclones immediately posted the game’s first run on the board to take the 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

With teammate Vicente Camacho on second base, Rudolfo “Fofo” Santos smacked a long single to drive in Camacho. Defensively, the Cyclones retired the Cardinals side allowing a single hit.

Before retiring the Cardinals side in order, Saipan continued to add runs to their lead in the second inning. Back-to-back walks put two runners on base for the Cyclones to start the inning.

Several plays later, an error by the Cardinals allowed Ryan Lisua to cross home plate for the 2-0 lead. Before the Cardinals could get back on offense, Saipan’s Jordan Mongami hit an RBI-double that scored teammate Roman Seman for a three-run lead.

Saipan starting pitcher Levine Bins was in cruise control in the third and fourth innings as he kept the Cardinals hitless in both innings combined.

Meanwhile, the Cyclones continued to work the sticks in the top of the fourth inning and were able to build a 5-0 lead. Cameron Takeo was credited with an RBI-single that scored teammate Eric Lizama.

Woke up

The Cardinals finally woke up in the bottom of the fifth as they chipped away at their deficit after scoring two runs.

With Mark Torre and Marlo Arce on base, the duo of Jared Alerta and Mike Castro each drove in one run apiece to make it a 5-2 game. Later in the bottom of the sixth inning, 76 continued to work a comeback slowly and trimmed another two runs off the Cyclones lead.

An error by the Cyclones allowed Jesse Alerta to come home making it a two-run ballgame. Before the Cyclones could end the Cardinals’ offense, an RBI-single by Torre made it a 5-4 game. In the eighth inning, both the Cyclones and Cardinals posted runs to keep the game tight at 6-5.

Budweiser Baseball League action continues later tonight with the Bank of Guam Athletics taking on the winless Paradise Fitness Junior Nationals at 7 p.m.

View the Budweiser Baseball League stat leaders as of April 12.