Oakland Opens Second Half with 3-1 Win
Ballers Out to 1-0 Start
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
By Nevada Cullen
KALISPELL, Mont. -- The Ballers began the second half of the Pioneer League season much like they ended the first: solid pitching and another victory. Oakland bested the Glacier Range Riders on Tuesday, 3-1, for its fifth win in a row.
Zach St. Pierre twirled a gem to earn his fourth win of the season. He allowed just three hits and punched out five in six scoreless innings.
Jared Engman was even more impressive early on in his start for Glacier. He carried a no-hitter in the fifth inning for the Range Riders.
Finally, Cam Bufford scalded a single past second to lead off the fifth and break up the no-no bid. The Ballers proceeded to load the bases for Tremayne Cobb Jr., who grounded out but plated the first run of the evening.
With two outs in the inning, Esai Santos laced a ball down the right-field line to drive in a pair and put Oakland ahead 3-0. Surprisingly, Santos took a sharp left turn towards third and hustled out his first career triple on the play.
Caleb Franzen entered with two Range Riders aboard in the seventh and none out. After a sacrifice bunt, he used a strikeout and a soft lineout to get the Ballers out of trouble.
Franzen allowed just one run over two innings of work. TJ Clarkson dashed Oakland's hopes of a shutout with his fifth homer against the Ballers this year, a solo laser to right center in the eighth.
Connor Sullivan allowed a leadoff single in the ninth, but retired the next three to lock down the save. Sully leads the PBL with 11 saves.
Jake Allgeyer made his Oakland debut, receiving the start as designated hitter and batting ninth. He stole second in the third inning and recorded his first hit and scored in the fifth.
First pitch for game two of the series against the Range Riders is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. PDT Wednesday. As always, you can listen to the action on 860 AM The Answer and on the Oakland Ballers YouTube channel.
