Nuts Overwhelm Blaze, 11-3

The Modesto Nuts rolled into town and the Bakersfield Blaze were not ready, as the home team committed five errors while falling behind early to the visitors from the north before ultimately falling by the final score of 11-3 on Monday night in Bakersfield.

Jake Zokan (L, 0-1) got the start for Bakersfield, and threw the ball better than his line might indicate. Zokan, the lefty from South Carolina, battled his way through the first three innings, and appeared to be on his way to escaping another jam in the 4th, but defense would conspire against him.

With two outs and two on, a groundball was kicked, loading the bases. Each of the next two Nuts batters drove in a pair of runs, and before the Blaze knew what him them, Modesto led 4-0.

The Nuts added two more in the 5th (one unearned) off of Zokan, and another pair in the 6th (both unearned) off reliever Nick Valenza.

After Trey Cochran-Gill worked two spotless innings to extend his season-opening run to 5.1 frames, Modesto put the finishing touches on the walloping with a three-run homer in the 9th off Rafael Pineda.

The Blaze, meanwhile, remained quiet through the first eight innings.

Modesto starter Grahamm Wiest (W, 1-0) got into a bases loaded mess in the 2nd inning before escaping on a double play, and earned the win with five strong innings. 

Shane Broyles worked two innings in relief before Troy Neiman finished things off. But not without event.

In the 9th, the Blaze woke up, as Tyler Marlette, Jay Baum, Tim Lopes and Burt Reynolds came up with four straight hits for three runs, erasing the shutout while still taking the defeat, 11-3.

With the hope that the solid 9th may lead to some momentum on Tuesday, the Blaze turn the page on Monday night, and turn the page on the starting rotation.

ScholarShare's Family $20 Tuesday is up next, with Edwin Diaz set to make his second start of the year for the Blaze, and Antonio Senzatela for the Nuts. Family four-packs are available for twenty dollars and include four tickets, four dogs and a program at the box office.

Can't make it out? Listen live as Dan Besbris brings the call at BakersfielBlaze.com and via TuneIn Radio on your mobile device. First pitch is set for 7:15pm, gates open at 6:15pm, and Dan will go live on air five minutes before gametime.

See you then!