Tatum Plates 10, Smacks Two More Homers in 15-6 Win
Oakland's Catcher a Top Contender for PBL Player of the Week
By Nevada Cullen
BOISE, Idaho -- It's only fitting that in the Potato State, Dillon Tatum keeps serving up taters. Tatum torched two home runs, including a grand slam, in Oakland's 15-6 triumph over the Boise Hawks on Friday.
It's the most productive night in franchise history, surpassing Brett Barrera's three-homer, eight-RBI game against the Northern Colorado Owlz last year. Tatum went 4-4 with 10 RBI, a double and two long balls.
For the fourth time in the past five games, Tatum turned in a two-homer performance and drove in at least five runs. Tatum's statistics over his last five games need to be seen to be believed:
.600 BA (12-20), 11 R, 26 RBI, 2B, 8 HR, 5 BB, 0 K, .680 OBP, 1.850 SLG, 2.530 OPS
Yes, you read that right. Eight home runs and 26 runs batted in for Tatum over just five games.
But what if I told you that the most impressive performance for the Ballers on Friday was on the mound? That's not entirely true with Tatum's brilliance, but Gabe Tanner's first professional start needs some recognition.
Four minutes prior to first pitch, Brody Eglite knew he wasn't feeling healthy enough to start. So, pitching coach Jim Dedrick turned to Tanner for an emergency spot start.
Tanner faced some trouble early, stranding the bases loaded in the first and allowing three runs in the second. Considering the lack of warning before his outing though, his final line is not one that should be looked past:
5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 80 pitches
And that's after tossing 2.2 innings just a few days ago. In a pinch, Tanner gave the Ballers exactly what they needed and was rewarded with his first pro victory.
Oakland provided Tanner with plenty of run support. The Ballers scored three runs or more in four different innings in their 15-6 win.
Cam Bufford bashed a three-run homer in a five-run first. Tatum swatted his first dinger, an opposite-field, three-run blast, in the third.
Later in the eighth, Tatum tattooed a two-run double into the alley in right center. Tyler Lozano followed him with an RBI single to complete a three-run eighth.
Then in the ninth, with the bases loaded, the Hawks had to pitch to Tatum. He walloped Oakland's third grand slam of the season, a 420-foot bomb to left center.
Ballers fans will not soon forget Tatum's two-homer, 10-RBI game, which powered the Ballers to a third win in a row. Oakland remains in second place in the Pioneer League.
First pitch for game five of the six-game series against the Hawks is slated for 6:05 p.m. PDT Saturday. As always, you can listen to the action on 860 AM The Answer and on the Oakland Ballers YouTube channel.
