Ballers stave off Mobiles to clinch series victory
Tanner throws 7.2 innings, Ballers blast four homers in Saturday win
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 0 |
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1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | X | 8 | 13 | 0 |
OAKLAND, CA – The Oakland Ballers clinched their first series victory of the season with an 8-6 win over the RedPocket Mobiles on Saturday afternoon from Raimondi Park.
Oakland (5-6) scored four runs in the first three innings on three home runs. Esai Santos and Noah Blythe hit solo shots in the first and second innings, respectively, against Mobiles starting right-hander Matt Lauria (L, 0-2) before Cam Bufford hit a two-run laser to left to give the Ballers a 4-2 lead after three.
Jeter Ybarra cushioned the Oakland lead in the fifth with a two-run home run to left-center, his team-leading sixth of the season, to make it 6-3 Ballers. The San Jose native leads the Pioneer League in home runs.
Starting right-hander Gabe Tanner (W, 2-1) delivered the longest start by a Baller this season. The 24-year-old pitched a season-high 7.2 innings, allowing six runs on nine hits with one walk and a career-high seven strikeouts to earn the win. Despite allowing two homers to RedPocket's Josiah Chavez, Tanner used his effective sinker to get ahead in counts and pitch at least six innings for a second straight start.
Nick Leehey and Nick Poss added crucial insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Leehey pinch hit for Santos and hit a sacrifice fly and Poss hit a two-out RBI single to make it 8-4 Ballers.
After being activated off the injured list, Jake Tirk relieved Tanner in the eighth after the RedPocket (1-10) plated a pair of runs. The Novato native struck out two and recorded three of the final four outs of the game but put the tying runs on base via walks. Langston Burkett (S, 1) came in and induced a game-ending popout against Ravaughn Morgan caught by a sprawling Tremayne Cobb Jr. in shallow left field to secure the Oakland series victory.
The Ballers will look for the sweep as they conclude their three-game home series on Sunday afternoon against the RedPocket Mobiles. RHP Aidan Risse will get the start for Oakland. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. Fans can tune in beginning at 12:50 pm on HomeTeam Network and on the Oakland Ballers YouTube Channel.
