Blowers, bullpen help Ballers snap skid in Friday night win
Blowers delivers quality start while bullpen throws three scoreless
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
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0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
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0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 3 | 5 | 0 |
OAKLAND, CA – Behind a splendid start from CJ Blowers, a sharp performance from the bullpen and timely hitting, the Oakland Ballers bounced back to defeat the RedPocket Mobiles 3-2 on Friday night from Raimondi Park which snapped a three-game losing streak.
The starting left-hander Blowers delivered his first quality start of the season with six strong innings, allowing just two runs on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in a no-decision.
RedPocket (1-9) took the first lead of the game on a one-out solo home run by Kishon Frett in the second.
Oakland (4-6) responded in the second and third with solo home runs by Jaden Collura and Tremayne Cobb Jr. to put the Ballers ahead 2-1. The Ballers are second in the Pioneer League this season in home runs with 25.
A solo homer from RedPocket's Marco Martinez in the fourth tied the score at two. However, Blowers punched out Frett with two outs and the go-ahead run at third in the sixth to keep the game even.
The Ballers retook the lead in the seventh with a run in on one hit and two errors. After reaching on an infield single against Billy Rozakis (L, 0-1) and advancing to second on a fielding error, Cam Bufford stole third to set up Noah Blythe's go-ahead sacrifice fly to right to bring the Ballers in front 3-2.
Langston Burkett (W, 1-0) threw a shutdown seventh with two strikeouts and Valek Cisneros struck out the side in a scoreless eighth to set up Braydon Nelson (S, 1) for the ninth.
Nelson did not do himself any favors initially. He walked the leadoff man, induced a fielder's choice grounder, and walked two more to load the bases. However, he got Raul Guillermo to ground into a 4-6-3 double play, the third turned by the Ballers infield, to end the game and secure the win.
The Ballers continue their three-game home series on Saturday afternoon against the RedPocket Mobiles. RHP Gabe Tanner will get the start for Oakland. First pitch is scheduled for 4:35 p.m. Fans can tune in beginning at 4:15 pm on HomeTeam Network and on the Oakland Ballers YouTube Channel.
