The Long Beach Coast continued their historic inaugural season Thursday night at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field, defeating the Modesto Roadsters 5-1 in Game 1 of the Pioneer League playoffs.
Long Beach took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning as Johnny Pappas singled to center field with one out and stole second after Benjamin Rosengard struck out. Cuba Bess followed with a single to center, driving in Pappas to give the Coast a 1-0 lead.
Modesto threatened in the top of the inning after Cole Fellows drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Leiker Figueroa and a groundout by Tyler Williams. Long Beach starter Nick Bautista escaped the jam when Max Handron flied out to left.
The Roadsters put another runner on base in the second when Jacob Lojewski drew a two-out walk, but Bautista ended the inning with a flyout by Arxy Hernandez.
Modesto finally broke through in the third thanks to Lucas Terilli who singled to center before Fellows followed with a single to right, putting runners on first and second. Figueroa moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt and Williams followed with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Terilli and tied the game 1-1.
After the Coast went down in order in the bottom of the third, Bess drew a leadoff walk in the fourth and stole second. Jacob Jablonski grounded out to shortstop, advancing Bess to third, before Cooper Vest launched a two-run home run to right field to put Long Beach back in front 3-1.
Modesto threatened again in the fifth when Fellows doubled to right and Figueroa walked, but Williams grounded into a double play to end the inning.
The Coast added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth courtesy of a Anthony Mata single and stolen base before eventually scoring on a Rosengard double to right field. Rosengard then scored on a Bess double, extending the Coast’s lead to 5-1.
Bautista kept the Roadsters in check through 6 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and one earned run. Jake Dixon came on in relief and kept Modesto off the scoreboard before Zach Voelker took over in the ninth.
Modesto mounted one final threat in the ninth after Lojewski singled to left field and Hernandez walked, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Feliciano then flied out to center, allowing Lojewski to advance to third. Kingston Liniak popped out to first base, with Hernandez advancing to second, before Cole Fellows struck out swinging to end the game.
Vest and Bess each drove in two runs to lead the Coast offensively, while Bautista’s strong start helped Long Beach take control of the series.
The victory gives Long Beach a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series and puts the Coast one win away from advancing to the Pioneer League Championship Series. The Coast will host Modesto again Friday night at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.
