On a gorgeous Wednesday night in San Jose, the Bakersfield Blaze were unable to push themselves off the mat, and fell to the San Jose Giants for the second straight night, this time by the final of 9-1.

The game was largely decided early, as Blaze starter Jamie Walczak (L, 3-4) struggled with his control. In a decidedly uncharacteristic start, Walczak allowed 12 baserunners in just 2.1 innings of work, five of them reaching on free passes.

For the Giants, they posted runs in each of the three innings in which they saw Walczak, scoring in the first inning on two singles and two walks to take a 1-0 lead, and another single run in the second on a Carter Jurica RBI double.

San Jose was not done in the early frames, either, scoring an additional pair in the 3rd inning on a Jarrett Parker homer -- his third of the series, and sixth this year against the Bakersfield Blaze, and before the Blaze knew what had hit them, they trailed 4-0.

From there, the bullpen did a fine job for 2.2 frames. Mike Griffin was called upon with the bases loaded and only one out, and on his first pitch, induced a double play grounder, before striking out the side in his second inning of work. Then, Blaine Howell came on and went a scoreless frame, as well.

In the 6th, though, the Giants went back to work. Kyle McMyne, on as the Blaze fourth pitcher of the night, allowed a leadoff double before setting down the next two. But a two-out walk, followed by Ricky Oropesa's 15th homer of the year put three on the board for the Giants, and San Jose went up by the comfortable mark of 7-0.

The Blaze did get on the board in the 7th. After Taylor Rogers (W, 10-10) left the game, Edward Concepcion entered and walked the leadoff man, Stephen Hunt. One out later, Danny Vicioso doubled in Hunt for Bakersfield's only tally.

But the Giants were not yet satisfied. After a scoreless 7th from the newest Blaze reliever Carlos Contreras, the Giants tacked on two more in the 8th off Andrew Brackman, going up 9-1, and taking the game to its final margin.

The loss drops the Blaze to 20-31 on the second half, and just 61-60 overall, falling to just one game over 500 for the first time since April 20.

The series with San Jose wraps up Thursday at 12:35pm, with Josh Smith going for Bakersfield and Jack Snodgrass for San Jose. Make sure to tune in for the game LIVE at BakersfieldBlaze.com, with Dan Besbris bringing the call at 12:30pm.

Then, the Blaze head home for seven games for Back to School Week! Head to BakersfieldBlaze.com for more info and to get tickets now!