Seven-Run Fourth Propels Oakland to Win
Oakland Ties the Series at 1-1
By Nevada Cullen
BOISE, Idaho -- With the score tied at five after three, the Ballers used a seven-run fourth inning to build a big cushion against the Boise Hawks on Wednesday. Oakland ran up the score, beating Boise 17-7 to end the Hawks' eight-game win streak.
Davis Drewek opened the scoring with a three-run, opposite-field big fly in the first. His 10th tater of the year put the Ballers up 3-0 early.
The Hawks promptly erased the deficit with their own three-spot in the first. Former Baller Coleton Horner lined an RBI double to left in the frame in his first at bat against his former squad.
Tremayne Cobb Jr. briefly put Oakland back in front with a two-out, run-scoring double in the second. But, Boise snatched the lead with a Taylor Darden RBI knock in the home half of the inning.
Cam Bufford tied the game in the third. His fourth sacrifice fly of the year allowed the Ballers to even the terms at five.
Oakland loaded the bases with none out to start the fourth. Esai Santos smacked a clutch, two-run double to left to hand the Ballers a 7-5 edge.
Daniel Harris IV reached on an infield single to score another and keep the bases full. Then, Bufford blasted a liner into the gap in right center to clear the deck with a three-run triple. Bufford finished the night with a career-high four RBI.
Lou Helmig served a run-scoring single into center to put the finishing touch on the seven-run frame. The Ballers led 12-5 after their second inning with seven or more runs scored in the series (they got eight in the sixth Tuesday).
Feeling inspired by Bufford, Helmig hit a bases-clearing triple of his own in the top of the ninth. Helmig drove in a season-best four RBI on the night.
Reed Butz went six innings and earned his fourth win of the year to move him into a tie for second in the Pioneer League in victories. Caleb Franzen chucked a couple of scoreless frames, and James Colyer kept the Hawks off the board in the ninth.
The third contest in the six-game set between the Ballers and the Hawks is set to begin at 6:05 p.m. PDT Thursday. As always, you can listen to the action on 860 AM The Answer and on the Oakland Ballers YouTube channel.
