San Jose Giants beat Oakland Ballers in Bay Area baseball exhibition, evoking memories of original Battle of the Bay

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Giants and Oakland Ballers were in the same ballpark – literally and figuratively – on Wednesday night in San Jose.

The Giants, the single-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, and the Ballers, an independent team from the Pioneer League, played a competitive exhibition game at Excite Ballpark, with the Giants coming out on top 5-2. 

The matchup was the first-ever contest between affiliated and independent baseball teams, a new rivalry dubbed the “Battle...