Expert Start Helps Coast Hang onto Series-Opening Road 5-3 Win Against Ballers

OAKLAND, CA – The Long Beach Coast (4-3) rode an early surge and a clean pitching outing to a 5-3 road victory against the Oakland Ballers (3-4) on Tuesday night. The good vibes began for Long Beach just two batters into the contest with shortstop Anthony Mata slashing a solo homer. Mata’s heroics would carry on into the ninth inning defensively, as well, helping to secure the W by turning a pop-out into a double-play.

That early action carried into the second inning with first baseman Cooper Vest bashing a two-run double, handing the LBC a 4-to-0 advantage. The sixth inning brought more of the same thanks to a home run from catcher Thomas McCaffrey.

Mata, McCaffrey, and Vest ended the night as the only Long Beach batters to record multiple hits in the Tuesday night win.

Right-hander Nathan Hemmerling blistered through the Oakland lineup, controlling the action from his first step off the rubber to the final out of the sixth inning. The Riverside-native commanded his six innings allowing just two runs on six hits with four strikeouts.

Southpaw Jake Dixon and fellow relievers Steven Ordorica and Ryan Faulks combined for three innings in which they allowed one run on three hits. Faulks managed his first professional save with a one-hit ninth inning.

Dixon’s 1.2 innings included three strikeouts, blowing away two Ballers’ bats in the seventh by way of the K to escape a jam with a runner on third base.

Next up, the Coast and the B’s rematch at 1:05 p.m. PST on Wednesday at Raimondi Park in Oakland. LBC fans can still look forward to the historic home opener on Tuesday, Jun. 2 at 6:35 p.m. against the RedPocket Mobiles at Blair Field.

Jesse Cook