Oklahomans Benefit From Welcome Gifts : California All-Stars Commit Four Errors in an 8-7 Loss

The nice, polite folks from Oklahoma who arrived for the California-Oklahoma all-star baseball series earlier this week, and were treated to a Padre-Giant game and trips to Sea World and the San Diego Zoo, found out a little more about West Coast hospitality Friday night.

Before the first game of the five-game series, Oklahoma’s kids were as friendly as Southern California’s weather.

“You boys happy to be here?” the questions came.

“Oh, yes, sir,” came the replies. “It’s wonderful to be out here. Everybody’s been so good to us.”

As were the California all-stars, who committed four errors and watched Oklahoma take advantage for an 8-7 victory at Smith Field and a 1-0 lead in this year’s 12th renewal of the series.

California had won 11 of the 12 previous series between the two states and 27 of the first 36 games played. But never before had they treated their guests so well.

Some of the folks from Oklahoma figured they deserved it. After all, amid this week’s fanfare, they have had to put up with some rough times.

“You know the weather hasn’t been as nice as we thought it might be,” one woman said. “We were figuring on sun, sun, sun.”

Apparently, nobody warned her about June gloom, which is commonplace in San Diego.

“Well, they’ve been so nice to us, I think we can put up with it,” she said.

If there’s no more sun the rest of the weekend, California’s hospitality Friday night ought to help ease the pain.

An error by first baseman Jason Moler of Esperanza High helped Oklahoma on its way to four runs in the first inning, and another error by Moler in the sixth allowed Eddie Lee to score all the way from first on a grounder to third.

California pitchers Kip Yaughn and Sean Rees of Mission Bay also chipped in, issuing seven walks, hitting a batter and uncorking three wild pitches.

Oklahoma mixed together a little of everything to take a 4-0 lead in the top of the first.

With one out, Steve Dean doubled to right and went to third on Roger Burnett’s single to left.

When Yaughn tried to pick Burnett off first, Oklahoma had the first run of the game. Yaughn’s throw eluded Moler and rolled down the right-field line far enough to allow Dean to score and Burnett to take second.

After Bill Alexander walked, Scott Epps singled to drive in Burnett for a 2-0 lead. Another walk, this one to Shane Coker, loaded the bases, and Sean Karn followed with a sacrifice fly to left, Alexander scoring and Epps moving to third.

With Kelly Stinnett at the plate, Coker broke for second. When California catcher Troy Tallman threw to second, Epps came from third and beat the return throw to make it 4-0.

California pulled within 4-3 in the bottom of the second in a bit more conventional manner.

Lou Lucca walked to open the inning, and singles by Tallman and Brett Lawrence loaded the bases with one out.

First baseman Mike Fadelli followed with a bouncer up the middle, scoring Lucca and Tallman and sending Lawrence to third. With two outs, Epps fielded Randy Graves’ bouncer at third but threw in the dirt trying to force Fadelli at second, and Lawrence scored.

In the fourth, Oklahoma added to its lead on an RBI triple by Stinnett and a two-out run-scoring single by Steve Porter.

In the sixth, Lee walked with one out, and Porter followed with a grounder to third. Lucca retired Porter at first, and when Lee rounded the bag too far at second, Moler threw behind him.

But his throw sailed into left field, and Lee raced all the way around to score. Dean then walked and scored Oklahoma’s eighth run on a two-out double by Burnett.

An RBI triple by Sean Mulligan and an RBI single by Lawrence pulled California within 8-5 in the eighth. RBI singles by Mulligan and Fadelli in the ninth made it 8-7 with two outs in the ninth.

But with runners on first and third, reliever Gary Haught retired Tony Darden on a popup to third to save the win for starter Kelly Revis.