Ballers batter Roadsters for 19 runs in Thursday series win
Cobb, Ybarra hit two homers each in blowout win
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 2 |
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3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 19 | 15 | 0 |
By Gareth Kwok
OAKLAND, CA – The Oakland Ballers used a seven-run third inning and an eight-run fifth inning to secure their first series win over the Modesto Roadsters on Thursday night in a 19-5 victory at Raimondi Park.
Oakland (19-26) led 10-1 through three innings after a three-run first inning and a seven-run third inning. Tremayne Cobb led off the game with a 405-foot blast off Roadsters starting right-hander Anthony Diaz (L, 1-3). Jeter Ybarra followed two batters later with a two-run shot off the batter's eye to give the Ballers a three-run lead.
In the third, Conner Smith cleared the bases with a double down the left-field line and one batter later Cobb ripped his second homer of the game with a two-run shot to put the Ballers up nine through three innings. It's Cobb's second multi-homer game of the season.
Ballers starting right-hander Hunter Day pitched into the fifth, going 4.1 innings and allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks with a season-high four strikeouts in a no decision. Lefty Jake Villar (W, 1-0) replaced him and escaped a jam with one out and two men in scoring position, using a strikeout and a flyout to record his first professional win in his home debut.
Oakland exploded for eight more runs in the fifth on five hits. Brendan O'Sullivan collected his season-high third hit and second RBI of the game with a single to center. Cobb drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home his fourth run of the game and Esai Santos recorded his second hit of the night with an RBI single. Jaden Collura delivered the biggest blow with a grand slam into the right-field bullpen, just the second Ballers grand slam of the season, to put Oakland up 18-4.
Ybarra hammered his second homer of the night in the seventh with a solo bomb to right-center. His 19 homers continue to lead the Pioneer League and he now has five multi-homer games this season.
The bullpen of Villar, Valek Cisneros, Brady Chavez and Austin Balentine combined for 4.2 innings of one-run ball on two hits against the Modesto (27-18) bats. Chavez threw two scoreless frames in the seventh and eighth and Balentine worked the ninth in his professional debut after signing with the team earlier that afternoon.
The Ballers continue their six-game homestand with a three-game home series against the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds on Friday, July 10. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m from Raimondi Park. Fans can tune in beginning at 6:15 p.m on the Oakland Ballers YouTube Channel and HomeTeam Network.
