Ballers win third straight as Smith goes the distance
Rookie right-hander tosses second complete game in franchise history
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
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0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
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0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | X | 7 | 11 | 0 |
By Gareth Kwok
OAKLAND, CA – Behind a splendid start from Griffin Smith (W, 1-4), the Oakland Ballers (3-7, 25-33) won their third consecutive game in a 7-1 victory over the Boise Hawks (6-4, 29-29) on Friday night from Raimondi Park.
The rookie right-hander out of Washington State went the distance and delivered the second complete game in Ballers history on 111 pitches. He allowed just four hits, one run and two walks and struck out a career-high seven for his first complete game as a professional. The 22-year-old threw two complete games in college while at Washington State.
Smith joins Gabe Tanner as the only two Ballers to pitch complete games in franchise history.
After Jeremy Begora opened the scoring for Boise with a solo homer in the second, the newest Oakland shortstop TJ Rogers responded with a two-run homer to left-center in his first professional at-bat off Boise starter Humberto Vela (L, 0-2) in the bottom of the second. The former USF Don signed with the team earlier in the afternoon.
Cam Bufford doubled the Ballers' lead three batters later with an RBI double to right, one of his two hits on the day.
In the sixth, Brendan O'Sullivan teed off with a two-run shot to left-center, his second of the year, to give the Ballers a four-run lead. The Pleasanton native is now batting .397 in the month of July.
After Jaden Collura doubled, Jake Allgeyer tacked on another with a two-out, RBI single, one of his two hits on the night.
In the seventh, Esai Santos doubled home Noah Blythe to extend Oakland's lead to six. Santos now has 31 extra base hits this season, which is second-most on the team.
The Ballers continue their three-game home series against the Boise Hawks on Saturday, July 25. First pitch is scheduled for 4:35 p.m from Raimondi Park. Fans can tune in beginning at 4:15 p.m on the Oakland Ballers YouTube Channel and HomeTeam Network.
