Game 22 Recap: Peanutz Inning
Nine-Run Sixth Dooms Ballers, Evens Series with Paddleheads
by Joe Horton
And it was all going so well.
Starter Aidan Risse had pitched into the sixth inning with the lead, 3-2. Both high-scoring and freewheeling teams were auditioning for new starring roles in a tight, defensive thriller. But after the first batter of the inning was retired, eleven PaddleHeads reached base in a row en route to nine runs. To make matters tastier, at least, it was the sixth inning, so as is Missoula tradition, the home fans were rewarded—more like drowned—with free celebratory peanuts. Oakland would not score again, and a 3-2 nailbiter became a 15-3 blowout on Strike Out Cancer night in Missoula.
Walks were again the story for Ballers pitching, with 14 free passes issued in the game to a PaddleHead lineup that needs no help. Conversely, Missoula starter Jaren Jackson went six strong innings with only one walk and seven strikeouts.
I kept wanting to write that the “top” of the PaddleHead lineup delivered again, but there really is no top and bottom to this squad. Every player appearing last night was hitting near or above .300, and their discipline at the plate continues to give B’s pitching fits.
A bright spot, for those like me who love position player pitching: OF Damian Stone went 1.1 without giving up a run.
It was perhaps merciful that the B’s free Friday YouTube telecast never came through; we had to imagine with the magic of our minds the grimness of the second half.
Charlie Hurley has been activated and is scheduled to start tomorrow for the Ballers (9-13). The last time Hurley pitched was May 28 in Oakland against the Long Beach Coast. Check out Nick Clementi’s preseason preview of Hurley here.
Odds & Ends
Many in the Ballers fan-ily and plenty of Oakland sports fans went home happy nonetheless, as Raimondi Park and the Oakland Sports Group hosted a viewing party on the field of the U.S. Men’s National Team in the World Cup as they routed Paraguay 4-1 in their opening match. Dispatchers Dawn Pieper and Mike Chouinard were there.
“It was super fun to see the community come out to Raimondi for the Watch Party and to witness the passion that Oakland still has for sports, especially on such an elite level,” wrote Dawn. “I was listening to the Ballers game until the 4th inning, so I think I got lucky there too.”
“It felt nice and Oakland,” added Mike. “Behind USA soccer gear was Roots and Ballers hats and jerseys, and there was a good showing of both local sports teams’ fans, families, and both teams’ management and staff. The Oakland 68’s were well-represented and sold merch along with the Garden Party in attendance who had a swarm of youngsters crafting up a storm.”
Photos courtesy Missoula Paddleheads, Oakland Roots, Mike Chouinard, and Dawn Pieper.
Joe Horton is the editor of Dispatches from Raimondi.
