Game 6 Recap: Allgeyer and the B's Keep It Simple
Allgeyer, Ybarra and McKenzie stay hot, Tanner gets first win as B’s build foundation
“It feels great coming off a week where I made some adjustments within myself... I’m just trying to stay relaxed and keep it as simple as possible.”
By Chris Drue, B’s Beat Writer
WEST OAKLAND—After a heartbreaker of a loss Saturday night, Oakland righted the ship during their Sunday matinee, delivering a decisive 11-5 win over the Long Beach Coast.
After Long Beach put up double digits in their first two games against Oakland, the B’s pitching staff filled the breach and held the hot Coast offense to five runs.
Gabe Tanner, the club’s Opening Day starter in his second season with the team, secured his first win of the season going 6 innings with 6 strikeouts. “I really started seeing early on what their hitters were wanting and anxious for,” the Danville native shared with Dispatches on how he settled in to give the team crucial length against a powerful LBC offense. “I adjusted some things [based on] what I noticed in their approaches… after the second I got into a groove and was able to attack hitters and execute my adjustments.”
The victory keeps Oakland's record at a balanced .500 as they wrap up the first half of this homestand against their new Southern California rivals. Looking ahead to the final three games of the series against LBC next week, Tanner is pumped to get back on the mound again against the Coast for the final four games of the series. “It feels great coming off a week where I made some adjustments within myself and the team’s game. I can’t wait to stack days next week,” Tanner said, looking to build a strong foundation for consistent success.
That early foundation was preserved by the bullpen, as Campbell Spradling, Valek Cisneros, and Braydon Nelson slammed the door. The trio kept Long Beach off the scoreboard and limited them to a single hit over the last three innings.
It was Toy Story Day at Raimondi, and the Ballers' offense also played the part perfectly by launching a few baseballs "To Infinity and Beyond." Jeter Ybarra, Damian Stone, and Jake Allgeyer all homered, with Allgeyer taking the Proposition Chicken Player of the Game Award after a 2-for-4 day at the plate, driving in three runs and scoring twice. Ybarra, who went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, has immediately made his presence felt in West Oakland, hitting four home runs (including a grand slam) and driving in 11 runs in just his first week of play.
Allgeyer has equally been a huge part of the B’s offense, collecting 2 home runs, 7 hits and 6 RBI in six games. “I’m just trying to keep it as simple as possible. Look for the ball in my zone and attack it when it’s there,” Allgeyer reflected with Dispatches. In his second season with the Ballers, the Illinois native worked on his approach during the offseason, and the adjustments are clearly paying off. “Last year I was definitely a little more aggressive which sometimes resulted in swinging at pitches out of my zone,” he shared. “I’m just trying to stay relaxed and keep it as simple as possible which has been good for me so far.”
Ending the week on a high note gives Allgeyer and the club a benchmark as they continue to measure themselves against the league's best. “It’s a great feeling. Long Beach is a good club and they got a lot of guys with PBL success… [hopefully] coming out winning the series is big for us.”
And with Oakland behind the team’s back, the B’s infamous home field advantage continues to inject energy into the clubhouse. “The fans are amazing. They always bring the energy cheering us on and it definitely makes a big impact on the field. We have the best home field advantage in the league and it’s all because of the support we get from the community.”
With new Pioneer League scheduling this season, teams will occasionally have the regular league off day on Monday during a series with an opponent rather than between different series as a travel day. So, with this halftime of the series, what adjustments will both teams make?
The B’s take on the Coast again tomorrow, May 26th at 6:35pm, on Scrubs & Scrappy Night (Nurses’ Appreciation Night).
All images from Darrell Lavin Photography.
Chris Drue is an East Bay native who has loved baseball since visiting the Coliseum with his dad as a kid. His favorite combo at Raimondi Park is a Fieldwork Day Money and a veggie dog (in a helmet!). His favorite pitch is the eephus, with a Barry Zito 12-6 curveball (circa 2002) a very close second. Find him on Instagram.
