Martin Dazzles in Turnaround Eight-Run Win

LONG BEACH, CA – The Long Beach Coast (16-4) route the Modesto Roadsters (12-8) for their first win 11-3 over their fellow rookie California expansion team on Wednesday night.

Coast starter Jack Martin shined in his fourth start of the season, only giving up a lone run in the top of the third that gave Modesto a short-lived 1-0 lead. The Coast provided immediate run support in the bottom of the same inning with a six-run rally, including a two-run home run by designated hitter Cuba Bess, marking his first at Blair Field in his eighth game in Long Beach, despite hitting seven on the road to lead the league since the end of May.

The long ball continued two innings later, with center fielder Emilio Corona getting his first dinger at home, also having not gone yard since the final day of the inaugural two-week road trip in Yuba-Sutter like his teammate Bess.

The Coast scored in each of the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, capping off their scoring parade with a three-run rally as a result of one hit and five free bases (four walks and one hit-by-pitch) issued by Roadsters reliever Lucas Alaniz.

Martin left the contest after seven innings of work, and despite giving up a single run in the Roadsters’ final two offensive innings from relievers Cole Cressend and Ryan Faulks, the hefty lead allowed the home team to Coast to their seventh win of the homestand, getting back in the win column after their 12-game win streak ended in the series opener.

Martin (2-0) received his first home win in his second consecutive quality start, while Roadsters starter Anthony Diaz (0-1) gave up the go-ahead six-run rally in the third before being pulled, leading to his first decision of the season.

With the I-5 series tied at 1-1, Long Beach now has a new wave of energy after their third double-digit win of the homestand. Game Three will take place at Blair Field on Thursday night – the Beach Ball Pregame Show will kick off at 6:15 PM PDT and first pitch at 6:35 PM.

Joey Miller