Furious Comeback Falls Just Short in 5-4 Loss
A ballgame that seemed out of reach for most of the night got very interesting in the 9th when the Bakersfield Blaze, trailing 5-1, scored 3 runs and put the tying run aboard, but the Lancaster Jethawks escaped with a narrow 5-4 win on Tuesday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark in Bakersfield.
The game was a lethargic one for the first few hours. Josh Smith (L, 1-3) got the start for Bakersfield, and gave up a quick 2 in the first inning on 2 walks and a double. The Jethawks, seemingly rested after an off day on Monday, continued to put runners aboard, but the Blaze turned double plays in 4 consecutive innings to limit Lancaster to just 1 additional run.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Blaze grabbed a single run when Travis Mattair launched his 6th homer of the season, but couldn't muster much else against Jethawks starter Wes Musick (W, 3-1), who went 8 dazzling innings against a somewhat sleepy Blaze offense. Musick struck out only 4, but allowed just 4 hits and 2 walks, and kept the Blaze off-balance throughout the contest.
The Jethawks added 2 insurance runs in the top of the 8th, and those proved to be instrumental, as Bakersfield's alarm went off in the 9th. The inning began innocuously, with both Billy Hamilton and Devin Lohman making out, but each of the next 4 Blaze reached base, 3 of them coming home. The Jethawks used 3 relievers in the 9th inning, and while Pat Urckfitz and Jorge De Leon couldn't seal the deal, closer Kirk Clark did, at long last, get the final out, and the Blaze came up a run short.
With the loss, Bakersfield falls to 14-10 on the season, and back into a first place tie with San Jose, who won. The series with Lancaster continues tomorrow, with Bakersfield's Tony Cingrani (2-1, 0.39) opposing Lancaster's Jose Trinidad. It's Goodwill Wednesday at the ballpark, offering half price admission to any fan that brings a donation item. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15pm. The game will be broadcast live on the internet, through the Blaze Gameday Audio link at BakersfieldBlaze.com, with Dan Besbris calling all the action beginning at 7:05pm.
The game was a lethargic one for the first few hours. Josh Smith (L, 1-3) got the start for Bakersfield, and gave up a quick 2 in the first inning on 2 walks and a double. The Jethawks, seemingly rested after an off day on Monday, continued to put runners aboard, but the Blaze turned double plays in 4 consecutive innings to limit Lancaster to just 1 additional run.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Blaze grabbed a single run when Travis Mattair launched his 6th homer of the season, but couldn't muster much else against Jethawks starter Wes Musick (W, 3-1), who went 8 dazzling innings against a somewhat sleepy Blaze offense. Musick struck out only 4, but allowed just 4 hits and 2 walks, and kept the Blaze off-balance throughout the contest.
The Jethawks added 2 insurance runs in the top of the 8th, and those proved to be instrumental, as Bakersfield's alarm went off in the 9th. The inning began innocuously, with both Billy Hamilton and Devin Lohman making out, but each of the next 4 Blaze reached base, 3 of them coming home. The Jethawks used 3 relievers in the 9th inning, and while Pat Urckfitz and Jorge De Leon couldn't seal the deal, closer Kirk Clark did, at long last, get the final out, and the Blaze came up a run short.
With the loss, Bakersfield falls to 14-10 on the season, and back into a first place tie with San Jose, who won. The series with Lancaster continues tomorrow, with Bakersfield's Tony Cingrani (2-1, 0.39) opposing Lancaster's Jose Trinidad. It's Goodwill Wednesday at the ballpark, offering half price admission to any fan that brings a donation item. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15pm. The game will be broadcast live on the internet, through the Blaze Gameday Audio link at BakersfieldBlaze.com, with Dan Besbris calling all the action beginning at 7:05pm.