Early Fireworks fizzle in Yolo's 4th KO loss
Oakland Ballers
(23-16)
5
Yuba-Sutter High Wheelers
(16-20)
5
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Oakland Ballers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 0 |
|
Yuba-Sutter High Wheelers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 2 |
Davis, Ca.---Fireworks were on display with the Oakland Ballers (23-16) and Yolo High Wheelers (16-20) going to a home run knockout round but it was the Ballers winning the game/KO round. Oakland's Dondrei Hubbard outhomered Yolo's Jose Gonzalez 2-1. The nine-inning portion ended 5-5. Yolo is 0-4 in the extra round. Meanwhile the Ballers swept the three-game series and have won the last five games they've played against the High Wheelers. Yolo has lost four straight overall.
Hubbard (9), the Ballers third baseman homered in the eighth inning giving Oakland a 4-3 lead. Six of his nine homers are against Yolo.
Yolo jumped out with three first inning runs. Shortstop Bobby Lada walked with one out. Immediately following, third baseman Braedon Blackford (7) homered to right field making it 2-0. That was his sixth straight hit for extra bases. Later in the inning, designated hitter Alejandro Fiugeredo doubled and scored on a single to right by right fielder Tanner Smith.
Oakland chipped away with a run in the fifth and tied the game in the seventh scoring twice; on a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly.
It was 3-3 going to the eighth, but Oakland took the lead on the Hubbard homer and added another after second baseman Jaylen Smith who had an infield single then stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by Yolo catcher Angel Mendoza. Smith scored on a groundout by shortstop Myles Jefferson.
The High Wheelers were down 5-3 going to the eighth. Gonzalez and Figueredo walked with one out. Following a pitching change, Smith singled home Gonzalez which made it 5-4 Oakland. Yolo was down 5-4 going to the ninth and finally got to Oakland closer Chandler David who had saved the first two games. Center fielder Brayland Skinner doubled to left with one out. Lada came through with an infield single toward third, moving Skinner up 90 feet. After Lada stole second, Blackford with the infield back grounded to second to tie the game. Gonzalez had a chance to win it with Lada at third but struck out to end regulation. That also ended Gonzalez's 12-game hitting streak.
It was the fifth straight no-decision for Yolo starter Brandon McPherson. He went six innings, allowed one run (earned) while issuing six hits and struck out six. The bullpen struggled with Jack Zalasky and Connor Langrell each allowing two runs. Turner Thompson pitched a scoreless ninth.
Oakland starter Carson Lambert gave up three runs (all earned) over four innings. He fanned one.
The teams begin another three-game set on Friday in Oakland at Raimondi Park at 6:35 p.m. Left-hander Brandon Mitchell gets the start for Yolo against Oakland righty Aaron Eden.
HIGH TALES
Gonzalez was 0-4 with a walk and a run scored. Over the 12-game streak he was (22-50, .440). He has reached base safely in his last 13 games
Braylin Marine had the day off. Lada got the start at shortstop for the ninth time. Marine's streak of reaching base safely in 23 straight games remains in tact
Skinner snapped a 1-18 (.056) drought with the ninth inning double
Blackford has homered in back-to-back games