Ballers erase six-run deficit to walk off Freebirds
Oakland rallies for two runs in ninth to complete comeback
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 14 | 5 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 3 |
By Gareth Kwok
OAKLAND, CA – In perhaps the ugliest win of the season, the Oakland Ballers overcame a six-run deficit and three errors to walk off the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds 10-9 on Friday night at Raimondi Park.
Oakland (20-26) opened the scoring in the fourth on a Tremayne Cobb solo homer but trailed by as many as six runs after allowing seven in the top of the fifth. Starting right-hander Michael Riley threw four scoreless innings and struck out four to begin the night. However, he failed to record an out in the fifth, giving up four runs, including two on a homer to Zach Chamizo.
The Ballers committed three errors in the frame, allowing the Freebirds to score seven runs on six hits.
Oakland chipped away at the deficit with a run in the fifth on a solo homer from Nick Leehey and three runs in the sixth on a pair of fielding errors from Yuba-Sutter (15-31) first baseman Andrew Kirchner and right fielder Christian Castaneda. Jeter Ybarra doubled home Jaden Collura to pull the Ballers within a run.
After an RBI double from Isaac Nunez in the seventh extended the Freebirds' lead to two, Ybarra struck again in the bottom of the seventh with a clutch game-tying two-out, two-run single to even the score at eight. Ybarra is now on a 12-game hit streak and is batting .455 over this span.
Jordan Donahue led off the ninth with a double and the next batter Diego Aragon drove him in with an infield bunt single off Langston Burkett (W, 3-1) to give the Freebirds a 9-8 lead.
Yuba-Sutter closer Tristan Wolf (L, 2-3) entered the bottom of the ninth in search of his eighth save but gave up a single to Jake Allgeyer and a walk to Collura to bring Ybarra back up to the plate. The Ballers' first baseman tied the score again with an RBI single to left field and an errant throw advanced Collura to third and Ybarra to second.
The Freebirds intentionally walked Noah Blythe to load the bases which set the stage for Paul Winland. On a 1-1 pitch, Winland hit a grounder to Kirchner at first base. He bobbled the ball and then threw wildly toward home plate, allowing Collura to score the winning run and complete the comeback.
It's Oakland's fourth walk-off win of the season and its second against the Freebirds.
The Ballers continue their six-game homestand and three-game home series against the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds on Saturday, July 11. First pitch is scheduled for 4:35 p.m from Raimondi Park. Fans can tune in beginning at 4:15 p.m on the Oakland Ballers YouTube Channel and HomeTeam Network.
