Crooked numbers were key for the Long Beach Regulators (42-11) on Saturday night as they came from behind multiple times to earn an 8-6 victory over the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds (15-38) on Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.
Long Beach trailed 2-0 after the first inning and were down 6-4 in the seventh, but three multi-run innings fueled the comeback as they won their ninth game in a row.
The Regulators have been particularly tough to beat at home, improving their record in Long Beach to 23-3 with Saturday’s win. Following the game, fans were treated to a performance by Long Beach native (and team co-owner) Warren G, with local artist CSUEE opening for him.
The Freebirds scored twice in the opening inning against Regulators starting pitcher Nathan Hemmerling, who settled in nicely after that. He didn’t allow another run in his six innings of work, scattering four hits and a pair of walks while racking up 10 strikeouts.
Long Beach put up a four-spot in the second inning, starting the rally with consecutive solo homers by Cuba Bess and Jacob Jablonski. Later in the inning, Eddie Pelc delivered a two-run double with the bases loaded to put the Regulators on top, 4-2. Pelc was a force out of the leadoff spot, going 3-for-4 with a run scored, two doubles, and those two ribbies.
Hemmerling was denied the victory, however, as Yuba-Sutter scored four runs off the Long Beach bullpen in the top of the seventh.Andrew Kirchner’s two-run double ended the rally and gave the visitors a 6-4 advantage.
After the seventh inning stretch, the Regulators got right to work with a two-run rally, though it started in scary fashion. Matthew Bardowell was hit in the helmet by the first pitch of the inning and immediately fell to the dirt. After being evaluated by the athletic training staff, he left the game under his own power.
Pinch-runner David Whittle moved around to third base with two outs, and was joined in scoring position by Emilio Corona, who walked and stole second. That proved significant as Johnny Pappas delivered a clutch two-out, two-run single up the middle to tie the game at 6-6.
Pelc started the game-winning rally with a leadoff single in the eighth, followed by a double from Dylan Lina to put two men in scoring position. Those two would score on sac flies from Jaxon Byrd and Jablonski, respectively, to give Long Beach the two-run edge in the final inning.
Closer Zack Voelker worked around a two-out walk in the ninth, striking out the final batter to secure his 12th save of the season.
Long Beach will look to finish off its third consecutive series sweep and go for a 10th win in a row when they host the Freebirds at 1:05 p.m. Sunday afternoon.
