Early Lead Sustained as Yolo Fall to Ballers
Four runs in the first guides Oakland to an 8-1 win over the High Wheelers
Oakland Ballers
28-24
8
Yuba-Sutter Freebirds
26-24
1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 2 |
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 |
Davis, Ca.---The Oakland Ballers (28-24; 1-3) scored four times in the first inning and cruised to an 8-1 win over the Yolo High Wheelers (26-24; 3-1) on Friday afternoon at Dobbins Stadium.
That was more than enough for Oakland starter Christian Cosby (6-1) who is the reigning Pioneer League Pitcher of the Week. He went 5 1/3 shutout innings and struck out seven while giving up four hits. His 86 strikeouts are tops in the league. In five starts against Yolo, he's 3-0 with 47 strikeouts.
Oakland sent eight batters up in the first. Center fielder Payton Harden hit the first pitch of the contest into center for a single. He stole second and scored when the next batter--first baseman Nick Martinez came through with an RBI single. Designated hitter Dondrei Hubbard added to the offense with a two-run double which made it 3-0 and shortstop Josh Leslie capped the scoring with a single.
The Ballers scored a run in the fifth on a double by left fielder Trevor Halsema and three in the seventh on an RBI double by second baseman Austin Davis, and a two-run single by Leslie who had three runs batted in.
Yolo starter Ben Ferrer (3-3) suffered the defeat. He fanned six in five innings but allowed five runs (all earned) while issuing seven hits.
The lone run for the High Wheelers was in the seventh. Left fielder Kyle Guerra was the runner at second and pinch hitter Alex Epp hit a ground ball to the right of first base. Martinez moved to his right but his throw to Oakland pitcher Derrick Cherry was not catchable and went as an error which scored Guerra.
Game five of this six-game series is Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in Davis. Right-hander Zach St. Pierre is the scheduled starter for Oakland against righty Brendan Knoll who will make his first appearance with Yolo.
HIGH TALES
Oakland manager Micah Franklin was ejected in the bottom of the first after a ball which was initially ruled foul was changed to a fair ball hit by Yolo second baseman Bobby Lada who was awarded a double
Yolo had 11 batters and all reached base safely
Shortstop Braylin Marine had two hits. He's hitting .401 which leads the club
Dawson Lane just moved to the bullpen, worked the final four innings and struck out six despite allowing three runs. It was his second appearance out of the 'pen after eight starts
Oakland leads the season series 12-10