Ballers surge past Roadsters late in Tuesday night win
Blythe’s go-ahead homer powers Oakland to victory
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By Gareth Kwok
OAKLAND, CA – Charlie Hurley tossed six strong innings and Noah Blythe hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth as the Oakland Ballers won Tuesday's series opener over the Modesto Roadsters 5-3 at Raimondi Park.
Oakland (18-25) took a 2-0 lead through five innings after an RBI groundout and an RBI single from Jaden Collura in the third and fifth innings, respectively. Collura recorded a game-high three RBI on the night.
Hurley pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and three walks with five strikeouts in a no decision. At one point, the right-hander set down nine Roadsters in a row. He pitched into the seventh but after allowing two walks to begin the inning, he was replaced by Valek Cisneros.
Modesto (26-17) took a 3-2 lead in the seventh on two hits and an error. Tremayne Cobb committed a throwing error which allowed the Roadsters to score their first run of the night. Harry Owen then tied the game with an RBI single to left and Osiris Johnson lined a go-ahead RBI single off Nick Leehey's glove to give the Roadsters their first lead of the game.
Collura responded in the bottom of the seventh with a game-tying RBI single to left center after Esai Santos led the inning off with a double.
In the top of the eighth, after Cisneros loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a walk, Langston Burkett (W, 2-1) escaped the one-out jam by striking out Tyler Williams looking and inducing a groundout from Owen to keep the game tied.
In the bottom of the eighth against Preston Kelly (L, 0-2), Blythe launched a solo homer 408 feet to left-center for his sixth of the season to put Oakland in front 4-3. After a two-out single from Brendan O'Sullivan, Cobb brought him home with a single to right to double the Ballers' lead.
Burkett returned for the ninth and slammed the door with his second strikeout, a lineout and a groundout to seal the Oakland victory in the series opener. He has not allowed a run over his last 5.1 innings pitched.
The Ballers continue their six-game homestand and their three-game home series against the Modesto Roadsters on Wednesday, July 8. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m from Raimondi Park. Fans can tune in beginning at 6:15 p.m on the Oakland Ballers YouTube Channel and HomeTeam Network.
