High Wheelers winners again, defeating Ballers 8-4
Yolo (17-20) defeated the Oakland Ballers (23-17) claiming first win for series
Yuba-Sutter Freebirds
17-20
8
Oakland Ballers
23-17
4
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 12 | 1 |
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0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
Oakland, Ca.---Brandon Mitchell (2-1) pitched seven innings (the longest for any Yolo pitcher) as he and the High Wheelers (17-20) defeated the Oakland Ballers (23-17) 8-4 on Friday night at Raimondi Park. The High Wheelers four-game losing streak came to a halt as did the Ballers streak of four straight wins. Mitchell allowed six hits, three runs (all earned) , walked one, and the right-hander struck out five. "I felt good," Mitchell said. I was locked in and kept the ball low in the zone."
Yolo jumped on the board with four runs in the second inning and knocked Oakland starter Aaron Eden (2-4) out after 1 1/3 innings. First baseman Alfredo Figueredo singled to lead off, immediately following was designated hitter Tanner Smith who singled. The first runs came courtesy of left fielder Justin Kirby who tripled to right field scoring Figueredo and Smith. Second baseman Kirkland Banks was up next and he chimed in with an RBI double making it 3-0. Center fielder Brayland Skinner completed the second inning rally with an RBI single to center.
Skinner did it on both sides of the ball with two long running diving catches: one in left-center in the third and the other in right-center in the seventh as he did his best Superman impersonation. He downplayed both robberies saying, "I got a good read on both balls." Manager Billy Horton said about Skinner's catches, "it was stupendous, ridiculous, and fantastic!"
Mitchell added about Skinner, "Brayland saved me a couple of times, I owe him something."
The only significant blemish against Mitchell was allowing a two-run homer to Oakland first baseman Noah Martinez (6) in the seventh. Yolo pitching coach Jerome Williams said about Mitchell, "he used his sinker very well, he attacked the zone, and kept guys off balance, plus he fielded his position well."
It was 4-3 Yolo going to the eighth and they put the game to bed three times. Shortstop Bobby Lada led off with a walk, two batters later right fielder Jose Gonzalez walked. After a pitching change, Figueredo added an infield single to load the bases. Smith then smacked a three-run double to right-center making it 7-3. In the ninth, Yolo added one more run on an RBI single by third baseman Braedon Blackford.
Oakland added a meaningless run in the ninth on a groundout by Martinez.
After Mitchell, Yolo relievers Jacob Stobart, and Ty Buckner combined for two innings, each striking out a pair.
The series continues on Saturday afternoon in Oakland at 1:05. Right-hander Ben Ferrer will start for Yolo against Oakland lefty Reed Butz,
HIGH TALES
After his 12-game hitting streak was snapped on Thursday, Gonzalez was 1-3 with a double and two walks. He's reached base safely in 14 straight games.
Braylin Marine sat out for the second straight game. Horton said, "we're just giving him an extra day, no big deal,"
Eight-of-the-nine High Wheelers in the lineup had hits while all nine reached base safely. Catcher Angel Mendoza was the only one who didn't have a hit but he walked and contributed with a sacrifice bunt in the second
Oakland leads the season series 10-6 and 4-3 in games at Raimondi Park