Millikan's Masterclass Guides Oakland to 5-1 win
A Franchise-Best Performance for Millikan
By Nevada Cullen
MARYSVILLE, Calif. -- The Milkman always always delivers. Never has that statement been more true than Wednesday, as the Ballers beat the Yuba-Sutter High Wheelers for the first time this season, 5-1.
Noah Millikan, who went eight innings last week, one upped his previous start. The right-handed hurler recorded the first out of the ninth, coming up just two outs shy of a complete-game performance.
He became the first Oakland starting pitcher in franchise history to get an out in the game's final frame with his brilliant 8.1 innings of work. Millikan allowed just a pair of hits and punched out 11 High Wheelers on the night.
On the other side, Brett Wozniak no-hit the Ballers through four innings. Oakland finally got a hit in the fifth, but did not get on the board until the sixth.
With two on and one out, Cam Bufford ripped a game-tying double into the gap in left center. Wozniak intentionally walked Dillon Tatum to load the bases, and Lou Helmig grounded out to first to bring home the go-ahead run.
The Ballers were thrilled to finally get to the Yuba-Sutter bullpen in the seventh, as Darryl Buggs II and Jake Allgeyer both drew walks. Then, Christian Almanza blasted a three-run bomb towards the videoboard in right field to establish a 5-1 edge for Oakland.
Almanza's three-run smash brings him to 20 homers and 70 RBI on the season. He needs one more home run and one more RBI to tie the franchise records in both statistical categories.
Oakland's four-run cushion allowed Millikan, who needed just 99 pitches to complete eight innings, to come back out for the ninth. After grabbing the first out, a walk and an error knocked him out of the game at 109 pitches.
With the tying run on deck, Conner Richardson entered for the save. He quickly got the final two outs to earn his second save of the season.
First pitch for game three against the High Wheelers is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. PDT Thursday. As always, you can listen to the action on 860 AM The Answer and on the Oakland Ballers YouTube channel.
