The Blues Win a Long One on July 3, Beating the San Diego Bombers 8-1
In a four-hour and five-minute matchup that saw Joey Blank go 5-5, the Blues collected a big win in front of more than 2,000 fans.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 |
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0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | X | 8 | 8 | 0 |
By: Julianne Shivers/SLO Blues
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — With a highly anticipated July 3 fireworks game, the Blues put on a show, beating the Bombers 8-1 while collecting eight runs on eight hits and no errors in the field.
The Blues' pitching staff handled the Bombers well, holding them to one run on six hits while the Bombers' defense committed three errors. Cooper Fulbright was the starter, going four innings and giving up one run on three hits while striking out seven. Lucas Shannon and Carson Boyer also entered the game, combining for five scoreless innings and striking out eight batters.
The Blues' offense was quiet through the first three innings, with neither team scoring until a Joey Blank RBI single drove in Miles Mador. The Bombers tied it up in the next frame when E.J. Barnes drove in Jeremy Jones to make it 1-1. The game stayed scoreless again until the fifth, when Kosei Suzuki came to the plate and laced an RBI triple to score Joey Blank. Suzuki scored later in the same inning on a wild pitch to make it 3-1 Blues. The sixth and eighth innings saw the Blues go on a tear, collecting three hits, drawing four walks, hitting two batters and scoring five runs in those two innings.
Joey Blank had a monster day at the plate, going 5-5, scoring once, driving in three runs and stealing two bases. Blank had possibly the best offensive showing by a Blue all season, in front of the largest crowd on the most anticipated day of the season. To make things more difficult for Blank, he played first base, a position he hadn't played in a while. When asked what it meant to perform so well in front of more than 2,000 people, he credited the fans and his team.
"I'm just happy I showed out for the fans," Blank said. "Happy I had my timing down at the plate, just a good night to be a Blue."
With a great turnout on July 3, the Blues move on to their next game Sunday, July 5, against the Santa Maria Indians. First pitch will be at 2 p.m. before the Blues hit the road Tuesday for a three-game road series down south.