Ballers Force Game Four with 10-2 Win Over Chukars

OAKLAND, Calif. – Backed by a relentless offense and a strong outing from starter Luke Short, the Oakland Ballers are back in the win column and force a game four with a 10-2 victory over the Idaho Falls Chukars on Friday night at Raimondi Park.

After two quiet innings, Oakland's bats came to life in the third. Tyler Lozano opened the scoring with a leadoff single and later came around on Tremayne Cobb Jr.'s RBI knock. Esai Santos followed with a run-scoring double, and Christian Almanza capped the rally with a two-run homer to right, giving the Ballers a 4-0 lead.

The momentum carried into the fourth. Jake Allgeyer and Davis Drewek set the table before Cobb Jr. singled in another run. Two more scored on a misplay in center field, stretching Oakland's advantage to 7-0.

Idaho Falls responded with two runs in the fifth on an error and an RBI single from Anthony Mata, but that was all the Chukars could muster against Short, who struck out six over five innings to earn the win.

Oakland kept the pressure on. A bases-loaded walk to Michael O'Hara in the sixth pushed the lead back to six, and Lozano sealed the night with a two-run homer in the seventh.

Lozano finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored, while Almanza went 2-for-3 with a homer, two RBI, and two walks. Cobb Jr. added two hits and drove in two.

The Chukars collected 10 hits but left 10 runners on base, stranding opportunities in the middle innings. Eddie Pelc led Idaho with two hits, while Mata and Garret Ostrander each recorded an RBI.

Oakland's bullpen held firm, with James Colyer, Conner Richardson, and Caleb Franzen combining for four scoreless frames to close out the win.

With Idaho leading the series 2-1, the PBL Championship presented by RedPocket will continue with Game Four on Saturday night at Raimondi Park. Fans can catch the action on 860 AM The Answer and FloBaseball.tv with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m. PDT.