Game 79 Recap, Aug. 18: Duel in the Valley
Day shines, but pitchers’ duel in the Valley goes against Ballers as Oakland drops 1-0 squeaker to Modesto
by Joe Horton
It’s enough to cause mass hysteria. Dogs and cats living together. A pitchers’ duel in the Pioneer League? Every so often it happens, and when it does, especially against a team that regularly pitches well like Modesto (28-3 second half, 55-24 overall), you really want to win it. And the Ballers (15-16, 37-42) came oh-so-close.
Hunter Day was superb, going 6.1 and giving up five hits and no runs while walking just one and striking out six. Of his 96 pitches, 58 went for strikes. His six strikeouts were a high for him as a Baller. Broadcaster Gareth Kwok had a hard time coming up with games pitched better this season.
Day discussed his dominating approach with Dispatches after the game. “I was attacking hitters and getting ahead a majority of the game, knowing my defense is going to make the plays and letting them work. Keeping the ball down and limiting hard contact is always important, especially a team that is hot like Modesto.”
Does he change his mentality when it’s clear the game is becoming a pitchers’ duel where runs will be at a premium?
“No, I do not change the mentality or approach because that when things go sideways. Keep attacking hitters and trying to make them feel uncomfortable, pitching to contact, and getting strikeouts when I have the chance to.”
And what about a game like this in particular, in a playoff push, in the run-crazy Pioneer League? Is having success like this special, or is a game a game?
“Every game is always important especially when you’re coming down to a playoff push. The game definitely feels more important, but at the end of the day, the game is still the game, and I’m trying not to put too much pressure on each pitch or each outing because then you find yourself doing stuff you don’t normally do and it can spiral out of control. Sticking to your strengths late in the season is important to keep having success.”
On the other orbit of the mound, Modesto’s Anthony Diaz had a similar line coming back from injury: 7.0, five hits, no runs, two walks and five strikeouts. From the bullpen, Johan Castillo and Bridger Holmes combined for two innings of scoreless ball, allowing only one hit and one walk while striking out two apiece.
In a game like this, offensive margins are razor-thin. No Baller had more than one hit, and the team had only one hit go for extra bases, Jake Allgeyer’s double in the sixth. Oakland was 0-9 with runners in scoring position and 1-20 with runners on base per Gareth’s game summary.
When the Roadsters scored their only run in the eighth, it was all the tiny plays that make baseball glorious when you win and infuriating when you lose: Lucas Terilli walked, Max Handron grounded out and pushed Terilli to second. Oakland native Osiris Johnson flied out, advancing Terilli to third. Then, as would have to happen in this timeline, Terilli scored on a wild pitch. No hits, one run, and it was enough.
Oakland remains winless in the second half against Modesto, but this was a far cry from the series at home where the Roadsters scored 45 runs in three games. This series continues tomorrow at 7:11 pm, and it had better start on time: our man in the booth runs a tight ship and will note when any game starts late (tonight? 7:17 pm, for shame).
Odds & Ends
Fashionistas: Gareth noted that Jeter Ybarra wore his socks visibly higher for perhaps the first time all year.
Blink and it’s gone: the game lasted only 2h20. This was the B’s second time being shut out this season.
Photos from Maya Lee in Modesto.
Video recap from Ben Verhoek.
Joe Horton is the editor of Dispatches from Raimondi.
