Karachi Monarchs storm back for historic win over Mumbai Cobras as Baseball United season one launches in Dubai

DUBAI: Baseball in Dubai started with a bang on Friday night as Karachi Monarchs third baseman, Pavin Parks, hammered the first pitch in the league’s history deep out of the ballpark with a 350ft shot that sailed over the right field “Crawford Boxes.”

Facing the Mumbai Cobra’s starting pitcher, Karan Patel – who was the first player of Indian descent drafted by an MLB club, and then the first draft pick in Baseball United history (2023) – Parks’ shot became the first hit, first home run, first run scored, and first RBI in Baseball United history.

The Monarchs bats were kept silent by Cobras pitchers until a wild ninth inning, that included another Parks blast – this time the first official Money Ball in league history – that cut a 4-1 deficit to 4-3 since the solo home run counted for double the runs as per Baseball United’s Money Ball rules. Karachi ended up scoring five runs in the inning, pulling out a surprising 6-4 come from behind victory on Opening Night.

Other highlights from opening night:

• Mark Simon struck out former big leaguer (TB Rays, St Louis Cardinals) Justin Williams in the bottom of 1st inning. This was the first strikeout in Baseball United’s history.

• Lou Helmig's home run in the bottom of the second inning against starter Mark Simon, became the first two-run home run in Baseball United’s history.

• In the fifth inning, Caleb McNeely hit an RBI double, facing relief pitcher Isaac Milburn. This was the first RBI and first run scored with no home run involved.

• Shortstop Lord de Vera hit an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth, bringing Caleb McNeely to the plate. This was the first RBI single in BU history.

• Mumbai relief pitcher Chandler Woolridge executed the first successful