Seven-Run Inning Propels Ballers to Win on Grateful Dead Night

Dead Enough, a Grateful Dead cover band, played a total of four hours at Scrappy Town during the game. They may still be performing as I write this.

POLO FIELDS, GOLDEN GATE PARK, 1967 RAIMONDI PARK, OAKLAND, 2025 — As the bluesy strains of a Grateful Dead cover band wafted from Scrappy Town, over the right-field bleachers, and swirled above the playing field, the Oakland Ballers put a serious truckin’ on the Sky Sox, defeating the visitors from Colorado Springs 14-2 underneath a sky that was more than just a touch of grey.

Oakland got off to a fast start, plating seven runs in the first inning off Sky Sox starter Johan Castillo, who was forced to eat a few innings to save a beleaguered Springs pitching staff. The big shot was a three-run homer by Darryl Buggs II, but Nick Leehey, Danny Harris, and Tyler Lozano, also recorded RBI hits as the Ballers were an occupying force on the basepaths, running around and around until Castillo was finally able to record the third out, but did so only after the B’s had sent ten men to the dish. Oakland tacked on two more in the second, with Leehey driving in Esai Santos for his second RBI on the night; he would later score on Cam Bufford’s sacrifice fly to center. In the fourth, the Ballers escorted the Sky Sox along Shakedown Street, adding three more runs to expand their lead to an eye-popping 12-nil.

In short, the B’s proved to be hard to handle.

Oakland starter Zach St. Pierre had struggled a bit in his previous start, allowing three earned runs in five-and-a-third in a no-decision at Glacier (a game the B’s won), but last night against Colorado Springs he painted a masterpiece, allowing just a single tally (a solo homer by T.J. McKenzie) on five hits across six frames, striking out eight. The B’s redoubtable bullpen would not let the large lead fade away, as Dylan Matsuoka, Sean Kelby, and Tanner Shears tossed three innings of one-run ball to close out the match.

Over 2,800 fans attended, many of whom decked out in Grateful Dead-inspired tie-dye B’s shirts, all of whom went home happy. I assume a fair amount of patrons also consumed chicken strips out of a helmet, which, I must say, is a much more palatable alternative to receiving hell in a bucket.

Standout performers: Lozano, fresh off the injured list, recorded three hits, scored two runs, and drove in three. Buggs had just one hit, but it was the three-run round-tripper in the first. Leehey was all deuces, racking up two hits, two runs scored, and two driven in (keeping with the theme, he also struck out twice). Harris had three hits and three runs scored. St. Pierre’s strong start netted him his fifth win in eight decisions.

And when all was said and done, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox could only shrug and say, “you win again.”

Time to check on a few ex-Ballers:

Carson Lambert, recently dealt to the Lexington Legends of the Atlantic League, has yet to allow an earned run across five innings.

Daunte Stuart is slashing .310/.361/.435 for the Lake Country DockHounds of the American Association.

Tyler Davis has a 3.38 ERA and is averaging 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings for the Birmingham Barons (Double-A, Chicago White Sox). Despite an unsightly 0-6 win-loss record, he is one of the Barons’ most reliable relievers. Known as a two-way player, Davis has yet to take an at-bat in 2025.

Dondrei Hubbard, who clouted 16 homers for the Ballers last year, has just four thus far for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League. But he boasts a .316 average and a solid OPS of .853 through 134 plate appearances.

Josh Leslie is hitting .318 and has swiped 16 bases in 22 attempts for the Frontier League’s Tri-City Valley Cats.

Braydon Nelson is 1-1 with a 4.03 ERA and three saves for the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League. As the Ducks are well known for harboring some former Major League Guys on their rosters over the years, I thought it would be fun to see who some of Nelson’s 2025 Ducks teammates are:

• Seth Beer, former Diamondbacks outfielder (and should be a hit in the minor leagues as the perpetual Beer batter).

  
  

• Mark Mathias, thirty-year-old ex-Brewer, Red, Pirate, and Giant.

  
  

• Keynan Middleton, flame-throwing former L.A. Angels closer who had Tommy John surgery in 2018 and has been a journeyman ever since.

  
  

• Zach Plesac, former Cleveland Guardian, nephew of Dan Plesac, opposing pitcher for three no-hitters (a record), and was once busted for violating COVID-19 protocols.

  
  

• Al Alburquerque … ohhh, yes, the guy who once fielded a comebacker and kissed the ball before throwing it to first. Ahh. That guy.