Eight is Great! Blaze Beat Ports 6-5 for 8th Consecutive Win
It wasn't as easy as the Bakersfield Blaze may have hoped, but in the end, it was a win, as Bakersfield defeated Stockton 6-5 in the opener of a 4-game road set at Banner Island Ballpark.
The game's first half belonged to Bakersfield. In the top of the first, before the seats were warm, the Blaze cashed in on an error and an infield single when Donald Lutz launched his 4th homer of the year over the fence in rightcenter for a 3-0 lead. Then, not to be outdone, the Blaze added more on an Andrew Means triple and Tucker Barnhart single, and the first of two solo homers on the night by David Vidal, all of Ports starter Ian Krol (L, 0-2).
On the other side, Chad Rogers (W, 1-2) sailed along for 6 innings. Rogers, who had been denied a win despite pitching exceptionally through the season's first 2 weeks, allowed only a solo homer while Ports batters beat his sinker into the turf.
John Holdzkom was the first Blaze out of the pen, and the big righty struggled with his control. The Ports were able to cash in on John's wild evening when Miles Head tripled off Pat Doyle's second offering in the 8th. That cut the Blaze lead to just 6-4, and an A.J. Kirby Jones sacrifice fly made it a 1 run game.
But credit Doyle and closer Brian Pearl (S, 4) with shutting the door. Pat retired 3 straight after the triple in the 8th, and Pearl induced 3 grounders to shortstop in the 9th as the Blaze hung on for the 6-5 win.
The victory moves Bakersfield's win streak to 8, and improves the team's overall mark to 11-7. Coupled with San Jose's loss, the Blaze is now just a half game behind the Giants for the Cal League North lead. The series with Stockton continues Tuesday night at 7:10pm, when Blake Treinen (2-0, 2.75) takes on Josh Smith (0-2, 8.31). The game can be heard live on BakersfieldBlaze.com, as Dan Besbris calls all the action - pregame show begins at 7pm.
The game's first half belonged to Bakersfield. In the top of the first, before the seats were warm, the Blaze cashed in on an error and an infield single when Donald Lutz launched his 4th homer of the year over the fence in rightcenter for a 3-0 lead. Then, not to be outdone, the Blaze added more on an Andrew Means triple and Tucker Barnhart single, and the first of two solo homers on the night by David Vidal, all of Ports starter Ian Krol (L, 0-2).
On the other side, Chad Rogers (W, 1-2) sailed along for 6 innings. Rogers, who had been denied a win despite pitching exceptionally through the season's first 2 weeks, allowed only a solo homer while Ports batters beat his sinker into the turf.
John Holdzkom was the first Blaze out of the pen, and the big righty struggled with his control. The Ports were able to cash in on John's wild evening when Miles Head tripled off Pat Doyle's second offering in the 8th. That cut the Blaze lead to just 6-4, and an A.J. Kirby Jones sacrifice fly made it a 1 run game.
But credit Doyle and closer Brian Pearl (S, 4) with shutting the door. Pat retired 3 straight after the triple in the 8th, and Pearl induced 3 grounders to shortstop in the 9th as the Blaze hung on for the 6-5 win.
The victory moves Bakersfield's win streak to 8, and improves the team's overall mark to 11-7. Coupled with San Jose's loss, the Blaze is now just a half game behind the Giants for the Cal League North lead. The series with Stockton continues Tuesday night at 7:10pm, when Blake Treinen (2-0, 2.75) takes on Josh Smith (0-2, 8.31). The game can be heard live on BakersfieldBlaze.com, as Dan Besbris calls all the action - pregame show begins at 7pm.