Ballers can’t overcome early deficit in Tuesday night loss
Oakland still seeking first back-to-back wins this season
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 0 |
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0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 3 |
By Gareth Kwok
OAKLAND, CA – An early four-run deficit was too much to overcome for the Oakland Ballers as they fell to the Long Beach Coast 5-3 on Tuesday night from Raimondi Park in the fourth game of the six-game series.
Oakland (3-4) trailed by as many as four runs through an inning and a half. Starting right-hander Aidan Risse (L, 0-1) delivered 53 pitches through the first two innings and gave up a solo homer to Anthony Mata, a sacrifice fly to Matthew Bardowell and a two-run double to Cooper Vest to put Long Beach ahead 4-0.
The Ballers responded and cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the second on an RBI single from Jake Allgeyer and an RBI double from Damian Stone.
Risse eventually settled down after the early damage. The 24-year-old completed five innings, allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits with four walks and four strikeouts. He also induced three double plays.
Long Beach (4-3) starting right-hander Nathan Hemmerling (W, 1-0) subdued the Ballers bats and pitched his second consecutive quality start. The 25-year-old spun six innings of two-run ball, allowed six hits, one walk and struck out four to earn his first win of the season
Former Cal State - East Bay right-hander Derek Murphy pitched well in his professional debut out of the bullpen for Oakland. After giving up a solo homer in the sixth to Thomas McCaffrey on the first pitch, the 22-year-old induced plenty of swing and miss with his sweeper to complete two innings with three strikeouts.
Major acquisition Cam Bufford made his season debut for the Ballers after being traded from the Sioux City Explorers on Saturday for a player to be named later. Bufford received a warm ovation from the Ballers faithful and went 1-for-4 with an infield single in the sixth.
Oakland put together threats in each of the final three innings but couldn't score more than one run. Tremayne Cobb Jr. singled home T.J. McKenzie in the seventh to bring the Ballers within two but Esai Santos struck out swinging to end the frame. Stone struck out swinging with the go-ahead runs on first and second to end the eighth and in the ninth, Noah Blythe drew a leadoff walk against Ryan Faulks (S, 1) but McKenzie lined into a double play to shortstop and Cobb grounded out to end the game.
The Ballers continue their six-game series against the Long Beach Coast on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. Fans can tune in beginning at 12:50 pm on HomeTeam Network and on the Oakland Ballers YouTube Channel.
