Ballers bullpen implodes late in Wednesday loss
Leehey homers twice but Ballers can’t hold six-run lead
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 2 |
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5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 13 | 1 |
OAKLAND, CA – The Oakland Ballers could not hold their six-run lead late as the Long Beach Coast rallied to defeat the Ballers 14-10 on Wednesday afternoon from Raimondi Park to take a three games to two series lead on Oakland.
Oakland (3-5) led 9-3 through seven innings but Long Beach (5-3) scored 11 runs in the final two innings to stun the Ballers.
An eight-run eighth for the Coast proved to be the difference. Long Beach sent 13 men to the plate and scored eight runs on five hits against three Ballers relievers. After homering to lead off the frame, Thomas McCaffrey cleared the bases against Braydon Nelson (L, 1-1) with a three-run go-ahead double to give the Coast a 10-9 lead. The Ballers bullpen allowed six free bases in the inning, including three hit-by-pitches from Langston Burkett.
The Coast added three more runs in the ninth as Matthew Bardowell scored on a wild pitch, McCaffrey singled in a run and Tyler Young singled in Bardowell.
The Ballers jumped ahead to a 6-0 lead through the first two innings. Nick Leehey enjoyed his best day at the plate this season with the first of his two homers in the first inning, a two-run shot off Coast starting left-hander Brett Wozniak. Leehey's second homer came in the fifth against Wozniak again with a solo blast to left-center.
Nick Poss followed Leehey in the seventh with his first homer of the year, a two-run shot off Ricky Tibbet (W, 1-0) with two outs.
Oakland starting left-hander Joel Tornero made his first professional start after signing with the team on Wednesday. Behind a sharp slider and changeup, Tornero fanned six in four innings while allowing two runs on two hits and five walks. The 25-year-old has pitched collegiately the past two seasons at Azusa Pacific and his 101 strikeouts was tied for eighth this season in all of NCAA Division II baseball.
The Ballers will look for the series split as they conclude their six-game series against the Long Beach Coast on Thursday night. RHP Charlie Hurley will get the start for Oakland. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Fans can tune in beginning at 6:15 pm on HomeTeam Network and on the Oakland Ballers YouTube Channel.
