Ballers knock out Freebirds to complete sweep in first half finale
Cobb delivers Oakland’s fourth consecutive win
| Final (10) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 0 |
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3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 2 |
By Gareth Kwok
OAKLAND, CA – Tremayne Cobb was supposed to receive his first day off after starting in Oakland's first 47 games of the season. But when duty called late, he delivered.
With the Oakland Ballers (22-26) down by one against the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds (15-33) entering the bottom of the ninth, Cobb came off the bench as a pinch-hitter and drew a walk to start the frame. After a hit-by-pitch, sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk, Jake Allgeyer was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring Cobb home, which tied the score at seven and forced a knockout round home run derby tiebreaker.
Cobb, who has been summoned in all four Ballers knockout round games this season, swung only four times and hit four homers to defeat Yuba-Sutter's Josh Phillips and his three homers, completing the Ballers' three-game sweep of the Freebirds and clinching the team's fourth consecutive victory.
Oakland ends the first half 22-26, its first sub-.500 finish in a half in franchise history. However, the Ballers have now won six of their last eight and carry a season-best four-game win streak into the second half.
The strength of the Ballers over the last two seasons has been their pitching. Last year's championship team led the Pioneer League in ERA (4.85) and the year before, they finished third (5.59). The 2026 staff currently holds a 9.06 ERA, which ranks eighth. Long-term injuries to offseason signings Ryan Rissas and Frankie Volkers during spring training and the promotions of Grant Manning and Opening Night starter Gabe Tanner to affiliated ball forced Oakland to reshuffle the rotation before and during the season.
The starting rotation struggled to pitch deep early, with Ballers starters going at least five innings in just 10 of the first 24 games. The bullpen also let multiple leads slip away during the opening homestand and the subsequent two-week Montana road trip.
Walks and hit batters were also constant issues. The Ballers allowed the fourth-most walks and hit the second-most batters in the league in the first half, which led to big innings for opposing teams.
The roster turned over more than expected due to the slow start. Of the 25 men on the Opening Night roster, only 11 remain. 42 players suited up for Oakland in the first half. Last year's championship team saw 41 players used the entire season.
Despite the underwhelming first half, the offense has been Oakland's steadying force thus far. Oakland has hit the second-most homers in the league behind Billings this season. Led by returning champions Cobb, Jake Allgeyer, Esai Santos, and Nick Leehey, all four have taken major steps forward offensively. Newcomers Jaden Collura and Jeter Ybarra have made an immediate impact, with Collura leading the team in batting average and Ybarra pacing the Pioneer League with 21 home runs through Sunday. Noah Blythe and Paul Winland have added more power to a deep lineup.
To reach a third straight postseason, the Ballers must improve on the road after winning just one road series in the first half. While the second-half schedule keeps them in California, it includes 12 games at Yuba-Sutter and nine at first-half champion Long Beach.
Oakland plays 36 of its 48 games in the second half against Long Beach, Modesto and Yuba-Sutter. The RedPocket Mobiles will visit Raimondi Park for six games and Boise and Missoula will visit for three games each.
The Ballers begin the second half with a three-game road series against the Long Beach Coast on Tuesday, July 14. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m from Blair Field. Fans can tune in beginning at 6:20 p.m on the Oakland Ballers YouTube Channel and HomeTeam Network.
