Wild Walkoff; Blaze Win 3-2 in 10 Innings

In the shortest game of the season's second half, the Bakersfield Blaze and Visalia Rawhide played a lightning quick nine-and-a-half innings before the Blaze ended it in the bottom of the 10th on a walkoff wild pitch, taking the series from Visalia two games to one with a narrow 3-2 win.

Though the walkoff win will draw most of the attention, the pitching in this contest was easily the story of the night.

Wandy Peralta got the start for the Blaze, and off a rather inconsistent outing in Stockton, Peralta did a very nice job of keeping an even keel in this contest. The Rawhide plated a quick run in the 1st for a 1-0 lead, but Wandy settled down and recorded zeroes into the 5th.

Meanwhile, the Blaze tied the contest for the first of two times. In the 2nd, Sean Buckley singled, and with two outs, Juan Perez brought him home with the first of three hits on the night.

In the 5th, both sides scored a single run. Daniel Bowman's solo shot put Visalia on top 2-1, briefly, and a Jeff Gelalich RBI single brought home local boy Brent Peterson in the home half to knot the contest up at two runs apiece.

From there, Bakersfield turned to the pen. New Blaze Ryan Kemp was first on call, and Kemp was solid, working the 6th and 7th without a blemish. James Allen followed with spotless 8th and 9th innings, as well.

Rawhide starter Spencer Arroyo goes down with a very unfortunate no-decision, going 9.0 innings and giving up just the two runs, but this contest took an extra frame.

Ben Klimesh (W, 2-1) allowed a leadoff flare double, but pitched out of it to maintain the 2-2 tie, and in the home half, the Blaze finished it off. Justin Van Grouw (L, 0-1) entered for the Rawhide, and Peterson worked a strong at-bat for a walk. Brent was sacrificed to second, and Zach Vincej followed with a bloop single to put runners at the corners.

After a visit from his pitching coach, Van Grouw bounced the next pitch, which skipped into the on-deck circle; Peterson scored from third, and the Blaze earned a victory in odd fashion, 3-2, in 10 innings.

The win nets Bakersfield a series win over the Rawhide, and the club improves to 47-30 overall on the season.

A strong test waits in the wings, however, as the red hot Stockton Ports come to town for four games at Sam Lynn Ballpark beginning with a special THREE HOUR Thirsty Thursday, presented by Tecate. Dollar beers run from 5:45pm to 8:45pm for one Thursday only, and fans are encouraged to hang out in the shade of the picnic tent while drinking responsibly. First pitch on the game is set for 7:45pm.

The Ports will send Yeiper Castillo to the hill for his first start of the year, and the Blaze counter with veteran Mikey O'Brien as the home club tries to snap Stockton's nine game winning streak.

Can't make it out? Listen to every moment of Blaze baseball live online at BakersfieldBlaze.com and TuneIn Radio. Dan Besbris has the call, with pregame show set to begin five minutes prior to first pitch.