Modesto Roadsters run over Pioneer Baseball League travel team 12-1 on opening day
The first line score in the Modesto Roadsters franchise record book is a 12-1 win over the Pioneer Baseball League’s travel team, the RedPocket Mobiles — earned Tuesday night in west Modesto at Modern Woodmen Field, formerly known as John Thurman Field.
As six-time Gold Glove winner, former San Francisco Giant and Roadsters head coach J.T. Snow exited the team’s dugout, his route toward the clubhouse was lined with fans trying to get his autograph. After obliging a few of the requests, Snow credited his coaching staff, and a successful spring training, for the team’s blowout win.
“It’s just one of 96,” Snow said as he held open the clubhouse door for his players. “But it’s a good start.”
Pitching and defense held the Mobiles to answer throughout the game. The Roadsters’ fundamentals, such as handling fly balls and routine grounders, looked sharp. Third baseman Jacob Lojewski had several throws to first from beyond the foul line. On the rare occasion he had to, first baseman Bryce Cannon picked bounces in the dirt with apparent ease. The team had zero errors.
Roadsters right-handed pitching ace, Jonah Jenkins, threw six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and one walk. Modesto’s bullpen showed just as much promise. Relievers Tom Peltier and Johan Castillo didn’t give up a single hit, walk or run. Closer Joey Mazzetti gave up one run on one hit in the bottom of the ninth. The Mobiles were held to just two hits.
Offense explodes
The game was, at first, a pitching duel between Mobiles starter Matt Lauria and Jenkins until Modesto’s bats accelerated in a fourth inning that ended with five runs scored. Sparking the onslaught was Roadsters left-fielder Vance Tobol, who doubled to left center and then stole third so quickly that Mobiles catcher Raul Guillermo didn’t even make a throw.
“We’ve just compressed the last nine days of spring training … and the thing I like most so far is our team is aggressive, right? They’re running the bases, stealing bases,” Snow said after the game. “So, yeah, hopefully, hopefully that keeps up.”
Tobol was driven in by Bryce Cannon on a fielder’s choice dribbler to first base, bringing the score to 2-0. Bryce Cannon then walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on another wild pitch and was brought home by an Isaac Pena one-hop liner to left field that he stretched into a double.
Hayden Dunhurst, who walked and advanced to third on Pena’s double, scored on a passed ball that appeared to be a miscommunicated fastball, as it bounced off Guillermo’s chest plate like he wasn’t expecting it. He and Lauria conferred during a mound visit afterward.
Pena, who’d advanced to third on the passed ball, was scored by the game’s standout offensive power hitter Osiris Johnson, who singled to right field. After stealing second, Johnson was brought home by a Lojewski single to left field. Lauria’s woes ended when Tobol grounded out to first for the third out. The Roadsters scored five runs on four hits in the fourth inning.
More runs
Johnson again became pivotal in the fifth inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, he singled to left field, driving in two runs. He ended the game going five for four, with three RBI, no strikeouts and two of the team’s four stolen bases.
Lauria finally was taken out after what the scoreboard said was 104 pitches thrown. The official box score says the number was actually 95 pitches thrown. Lauria gave up seven earned runs on eight hits with four walks and one strikeout.
The score remained 8-0 until another offensive explosion in the bottom of the eighth inning. With one out, Johnson’s blast to the center-left field gap allowed him a stand-up triple. The bases were again loaded when pinch-hitter Mikey Perez advanced to second on a wild pitch. Lojewski was granted first when hit by an up-and-in fastball.
Tobol unloaded the bases with a double to left field, then scored himself when Justin Boyd singled to left. The inning ended with four runs on three hits, with a score of 12-0. The Mobiles only run came when Maxim Fullerton, who’d walked then advanced to third on a single, scored on a broken bat fielder’s choice to Mazzetti in the bottom of the ninth. The game ended when Justin Johnson grounded out to Mazzetti.
