Long Beach Closer First to Double-Digit Saves in 2026

LONG BEACH, CA – The Long Beach Coast (39-11) took the first series of the second half over the Oakland Ballers (22-28) on Wednesday night.

Ballers starter Hunter Day faced the minimum through his first three innings of work. Day allowed only two baserunners on two walks, including a leadoff walk to Coast left fielder Eddy Pelc in the bottom of the first. Pelc’s 72nd base-on-balls in 50 games played put the second-year Pioneer Leaguer in the top five for most in a single season in the MLB Partner League era.

The Ballers offense struck first in the top of the third. Cole Percival made his second start for Long Beach, allowing the lone two runs to the Ballers solely off of a Jaden Collura two-run double. Percival went a season-high five innings in his Wednesday night start, receiving run support in the final two innings he began defensively.

Coast designated hitter Cuba Bess tied the game on a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth, one of three RBI on the night for the Colorado native. Bess, who leads the Coast with 68 runs batted in, has now procured eight RBI over his past three games played.

The Coast took their first and final lead of the night in the bottom of the fifth after Percival’s final frame when catcher David Whittle knocked the go-ahead single up the middle for his first hit in six at-bats.

New Coast bullpen arm Jonathan Kozasky, who had signed on Friday morning, made his professional debut after Long Beach took the 3-2 lead. Kozasky faced five batters, allowed two Ballers baserunners aboard, recorded his first strikeout, then finished the scoreless frame on the next batter.

Coast second baseman Jacob Jablonski sent his 13th home run of the season to right center, adding two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, completing three straight run-scoring innings for Long Beach.

Long Beach closer Zach Voelker entered the game with two outs in the top of the eighth with a 5-2 lead, striking out his first batter faced.

The Coast put up three more insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, but Voelker still had an opportunity to record his first save of the second half. Voelker served a leadoff single to Ballers left fielder Myles Beale, leaving him at first as he retired the following three Ballers in a row, finishing the game with two strikeouts.

Voelker recorded his 10th save of the season, making him the first closer in the Pioneer League to reach double-digit saves in 2026. Four closers reached double-digit saves in the 2025 Pioneer League season, all with over 40 appearances. Voelker recorded his 10th save in only his 26th appearance of the season.

Percival (1-0) received his first Pioneer League victory, while Hunter Day (0-2) took his second loss in his fifth appearance with Oakland.

The 8-2 Coast victory marked the seventh consecutive win against Oakland, now 11-3 against the Northern California rivals.The Coast clinched their 13th series of their first 15 in the inaugural campaign.

Long Beach will attempt their seventh series sweep of their inaugural campaign on Thursday night’s series finale. The Beach Ball Pregame Show will start at 6:15 PM PDT on HomeTeam Network and Long Beach Coast on YouTube, with first pitch at 6:35 PM.

Joey Miller