Roark strikes out seven in first career start as Roadsters edge Freebirds, 4-3

MODESTO, CA  •  July 15, 2026  •  Modern Woodmen Field 

The Modesto Roadsters clinched their series against the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds with a 4-3 win Wednesday night at Modern Woodmen Field. Max Handron's two-run double in the first gave Modesto an early lead, and Ethan Roark delivered six innings with seven strikeouts in his first career start to earn his first professional win. The Roadsters move to 2-0 in the second half with the victory and have won five straight against Yuba-Sutter this season.

Modesto struck first in the bottom of the first when Lucas Terilli drew a leadoff walk; Jacob Lojewski followed with a walk of his own, and Handron doubled to bring both runners home for a 2-0 lead. Yuba-Sutter answered in the second: Kyle Carlson walked, Andrew Kirchner tripled to center to score him, and Diego Aragon singled to left to plate Kirchner and tie the game, 2-2. The Roadsters regained the lead in the fourth when Tyler Williams singled to score Bryce Cannon, and Hayden Dunhurst lifted a sacrifice fly to right to bring home Justin Boyd and make it 4-2. Cam Yuran scored on a sixth-inning balk to pull Yuba-Sutter within one, but the Freebirds managed nothing more against the Modesto bullpen to set the 4-3 final.

Ethan Roark (W, 1-0) went six innings in his first professional start, allowing three runs on two hits while striking out seven on 90 pitches. Blake Smith retired all six batters he faced across the seventh and eighth with four strikeouts on 18 pitches, and Dawson Goines worked a clean ninth with two strikeouts for the save. Chase Martinez (L, 0-1) allowed four runs on three hits across five innings for Yuba-Sutter, issuing five walks. Handron finished 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs and has driven in seven runs across the first two games of the series. Boyd reached base three times with a hit and two walks and scored the go-ahead run, while Leiker Figueroa walked and stole a base in his professional debut.

Modesto concludes the three-game series against Yuba-Sutter on Thursday night at Modern Woodmen Field, with first pitch at 7:11 PM. The Roadsters then head to Oakland for a three-game weekend series against the Ballers, beginning Friday at 6:35 PM with World Cup Night at Raimondi Park. Saturday's game starts at 4:35 PM for Ballermania, and the series wraps up Sunday at 1:05 PM. Tickets are available at modestoroadsters.com.