UD AL-BAYDA, United Arab Emirates — Karachi opened Baseball United’s first full regular season with a dramatic 6-4 comeback win Friday night, scoring five runs in the top of the ninth to defeat the Mumbai Cobras at Baseball United Ballpark at the Sevens Stadium Complex.
Before first pitch, Baseball United Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder Kash Shaikh thanked fans, investors, and partners for their support across the league’s multi-year buildup. Hall of Famers Barry Larkin and Adrian Beltre joined Robinson Chirinos and Elvis Andrus for a pregame ceremony honoring their roles as early investors and co-founders in the league’s launch across Dubai, Lahore, and Mumbai.
Kash Shaikh Talks Baseball United Opening Night In Dubai With World Baseball Network
Karachi used starter Mark Simon and relievers Isaac Milburn, Alex Dubord, and Enrique Burgos, who combined for 12 strikeouts and held Mumbai to four earned runs across nine innings. Mumbai countered with Karan Patel, Dylan Spain, Chandler Woolridge, Jacob Hasty, and Akeel Morris, who struck out 13 and allowed five earned runs.
In the top of the first inning, Karachi third baseman Pavin Parks homered on the first pitch of the game, sending Patel’s fastball over the right-field wall for the first regular-season run in Baseball United history.
In the first ever pitch in a regular season game in Baseball United history, Pavin Parks goes deep! pic.twitter.com/ZYb5QSfSxK
— Jeff Duda (@INTLBaseball24) November 14, 2025
Mumbai responded immediately in the second when Lou Helmig launched a two-run home run to right, scoring Raul Shah for a 2-1 lead. The Cobras extended their advantage in the fifth when center fielder Cade McNeely lifted a ground-rule double to right-center, misplayed by Jose Acosta, allowing designated runner Victor Vahlberg to score for a 3-1 margin.
Former Phillies prospect from Germany, Lou Helmig, with a two run dinger for Mumbai! pic.twitter.com/wjNrSkQpVb
— Jeff Duda (@INTLBaseball24) November 14, 2025
Mumbai added another run in the eighth when Lord De Vera bounced an infield single off second baseman Juremi Profar’s glove, scoring McNeely for a 4-1 lead.
Lord Aragorn De Vera with an RBI single and Mumbai leads 4-1! pic.twitter.com/wk6GG9Yoym
— Jeff Duda (@INTLBaseball24) November 14, 2025
Karachi’s offense stayed quiet until the ninth, when everything flipped.
Leading off with the money ball in effect, Parks blasted his second home run of the night, a two-run shot to cut the deficit to 4-3.
Pavin Parks with his second home run of the game and this time with the money ball! It’s a one run game in the 9th! pic.twitter.com/a4KyEV9fvp
— Jeff Duda (@INTLBaseball24) November 14, 2025
Isaac Nunez singled, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored the tying run when Max Jung-Goldberg was hit by a pitch with the money ball active, moving two bases to bring in the 4-4 run.
Per Baseball United rules, Max Jung-Goldberg is HBP with the money ball and all runners advance two bases and it’s tied at 4 in the 9th! pic.twitter.com/SSXf7mggib
— Jeff Duda (@INTLBaseball24) November 14, 2025
Moments later, Pierce Khan lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Jung-Goldberg to give Karachi a 5-4 lead. Eric Meza then scored on a wild pitch during Karim Ayubi’s at-bat to extend the lead to 6-4.
