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Blaze Best Crabby Nuts 3-2, Win 7th Straight

Peralta goes 6.0 for the win; Vidal has go-ahead RBI in 6th
July 7, 2014

Lucky number seven!

The Bakersfield Blaze did it again, winning another close ballgame on a clutch base hit and beating the Modesto Nuts for the third straight night while winning the seventh in a row for the team, 3-2, on Sunday evening in Modesto.

For the second consecutive ballgame, pitching dominated. A pair of southpaws squared off on a warm evening, and that of the Blaze went one out deeper, which made the difference.

Wandy Peralta (W, 6-6), who ended up getting the win, struggled a bit early before settling down.

The Blaze took a 1-0 advantage in the 1st on a Sebastian Elizalde single, scoring Zach Vincej, but Peralta immediately gave the runs back, allowing two Nuts tallies in the 2nd inning.

But Bakersfield battled back shortly thereafter, knotting the contest at two runs apiece in the 3rd. Sammy Diaz doubled to begin the inning, and Elizalde was again the RBI-man, bringing him home on a sacrifice fly.

The score remained at 2-2 until the 6th. After Peralta finished a strong top half, Jayson Aquino (L, 2-6) almost matched him. Harold Riggins doubled, and two singles later, scored the go-ahead run on a David Vidal base hit. The Blaze ended up loading the bases with nobody out, but had to settle for just the 3-2 lead.

All that despite Modesto catcher Chris O'Dowd getting ejected for arguing at the plate, and Modesto bouncing into two double plays while having two more runners thrown out on the bases.

Fortunately, that would be enough. El'Hajj Muhammad worked the 7th, Kyle McMyne pitched out of a two-on, one-out jam in the 8th, and Ben Klimesh (S, 4) worked a five-pitch 9th for the save.

Bakersfield improves to 11-6 in the second half and a season high 25 games over the 500 mark at 56-31 overall, the best mark in the league. In addition, the seven game winning streak matches the longest of the year, set originally back in May.

The Blaze will try to set a new high in that department in the finale with Modesto on Monday evening. It's Dollar Monday, where tickets to the game and hot dogs are just a buck apiece thanks to Bakersfield Hyundai. 

Can't make it out? Listen to every thrilling moment of Blaze baseball action live online at BakersfieldBlaze.com and via TuneIn Radio as Dan Besbris brings the call. First pitch is set for 7:45pm, gates open at 6:45pm and the broadcast fires up five minutes before expected first pitch.