Roadsters Snap Coast’s Win Streak at 12

LONG BEACH, CA – The Long Beach Coast (15-4) finally let slip their first home game 4-3 to the Modesto Roadsters (12-7) on Tuesday night, halting the L.B.C.’s 12-game winning streak. Never scoring in the same frame, two lead changes handed the contest to the team that struck first in Modesto.

Despite a 2-0 deficit after the first three innings, starter Nathan Hemmerling boasted one of his better lines, ending with five innings pitched, three total runs allowed on four hits, and striking out six. After allowing 11 runs (four earned) in his latest outing, Hemmerling swooped back into his old ways like his first two starts during which time he surrendered only a combined two runs.

Submarine pitcher Steven Ordorica left with the loss, but only after cleaning up a bases loaded jam in the prior inning. Behind him, right-handers Julien Hernandez and Matt Voelker combined for 2.1 perfect frames with Hernandez striking out two and Voelker retiring the side entirely by way of the K in the ninth.

Only three members of the Coast offense recorded multi-hit performances in left fielder Eddy Pelc, center fielder Emilio Corona, and third baseman Patrick Roche. Shortstop Anthony Mata’s fourth inning double contributed to the L.B.C.’s initial effort to tie the game. Long Beach knotted the score at 2-2 in the fourth, capping the frame on Corona’s R.B.I. single. Roche’s first hit jumped the Coast into the lead in the fifth.

Modesto and Long Beach rematch on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. P.D.T. with gates at Blair Field opening for Boots & Baseball Night at 5:05 p.m. Coverage for the country music-themed atmosphere with the Beach Ball Pre-Game Report begins on the Home Team Network at 6:15 p.m.

Jesse Cook