Blaze Set 2012 Offensive Marks in 14-6 Win
It was an offensive explosion from start to finish on Tuesday night in Visalia, as the Bakersfield Blaze pounded out 19 hits en route to a 14-6 win over the Rawhide.
The show began quickly, and never stopped. In a spot-start for the injured Anthony Meo, Visalia righthander Ross Gerdeman (L, 0-1) gave up a double to Billy Hamilton before the speedster stole 3rd (his 41st of the season; Billy would steal number 42 before the game was through), and came home on Devin Lohman's groundout. Bakersfield put 2 more runners on before Gerdeman got out of the jam.
The relief was short-lived. In the 2nd inning, after a quick 1-2-3 first from Josh Smith (W, 2-4), Bakersfield put 2 more men aboard, and then time the team would not come up empty. Devin Lohman drilled a fastball over the wall in left for a 3-run shot, his 4th RBI of the night, and a 4-0 lead.
After Smith again plowed through Visalia's lineup, the Blaze continued to add. Lohman clubbed his second homer of the night in the 4th inning, a 2-run shot, and the Blaze led comfortably at that point, 7-0.
In all, the Blaze collected 14 runs, 19 hits, and 8 doubles, all season highs. Individually, Lohman's 2-homer night was the second 2-homer night for a Blaze player this year, and his 6 runs knocked in marked a team best for 2012. All 9 starting position players had at least one hit in the rout.
The win improves the Blaze to 26-19, and back to within 2.5 games of division-leading San Jose. The Giants come to Bakersfield on Thursday (after tomorrow's off day) for a 3-game set. The games are sure to be action-packed as the top 2 teams in the Cal League battle it out! Thirsty Thursday is calling! Come on out to the park for the 7:30pm start time, with Tony Cingrani, the league-leader in ERA, tries to get the Blaze a game closer. Or, listen live on BakersfieldBlaze.com, as Dan Besbris calls all the action starting at 7:20pm.
The show began quickly, and never stopped. In a spot-start for the injured Anthony Meo, Visalia righthander Ross Gerdeman (L, 0-1) gave up a double to Billy Hamilton before the speedster stole 3rd (his 41st of the season; Billy would steal number 42 before the game was through), and came home on Devin Lohman's groundout. Bakersfield put 2 more runners on before Gerdeman got out of the jam.
The relief was short-lived. In the 2nd inning, after a quick 1-2-3 first from Josh Smith (W, 2-4), Bakersfield put 2 more men aboard, and then time the team would not come up empty. Devin Lohman drilled a fastball over the wall in left for a 3-run shot, his 4th RBI of the night, and a 4-0 lead.
After Smith again plowed through Visalia's lineup, the Blaze continued to add. Lohman clubbed his second homer of the night in the 4th inning, a 2-run shot, and the Blaze led comfortably at that point, 7-0.
In all, the Blaze collected 14 runs, 19 hits, and 8 doubles, all season highs. Individually, Lohman's 2-homer night was the second 2-homer night for a Blaze player this year, and his 6 runs knocked in marked a team best for 2012. All 9 starting position players had at least one hit in the rout.
The win improves the Blaze to 26-19, and back to within 2.5 games of division-leading San Jose. The Giants come to Bakersfield on Thursday (after tomorrow's off day) for a 3-game set. The games are sure to be action-packed as the top 2 teams in the Cal League battle it out! Thirsty Thursday is calling! Come on out to the park for the 7:30pm start time, with Tony Cingrani, the league-leader in ERA, tries to get the Blaze a game closer. Or, listen live on BakersfieldBlaze.com, as Dan Besbris calls all the action starting at 7:20pm.