Blaze Claw a Game Closer with 7-5 Victory over San Jose
In arguably the season's biggest game, the Bakersfield Blaze scored 5 runs in a big 3rd inning, and added 2 single tallies late to sneak by San Jose in the opener of a 3-game set, 7-5.
The starting pitchers each had a rough go of it. For San Jose, Hector Correa (L, 1-1) managed just 2.2 innings, battling decisive fits of wildness. Correa walked 5, hit a batter, and was responsible for 5 runs, all in the 3rd inning. Justice French, the Blaze starter, did not fare much better. After sailing through the first 3 innings, French allowed 2 singles, 2 walks and an Andrew Susac grand slam homer, and before the Blaze knew it, the Giants scored 5 of their own to cut a 6-0 Blaze lead down to 6-5.
All the credit in the world tonight must go to the Blaze pen, a group of guys that suffered through a tough homestand. Pat Doyle (W, 4-2), entered with 2 outs in the 4th inning, and promptly retired 10 men in a row to get through the 7th. After the Blaze scored their 7th run, a valuable insurance tally, on a Jaren Matthews double, Jamie Walczak (S, 1) pitched the final 2 innings, allowing just a single to Adam Duvall, for his first save of the year.
The game also featured a bevvy of key baserunning moments. Billy Hamilton stole his 55th in the 1st inning, but was caught trying to take 3rd. Bakersfield had 3 men thrown out trying to steal, had 2 men thrown out at the plate, and 1 man allowed to score on a controversial obstruction call. But when all was said and done, the Blaze prevailed in a huge game.
With the win, the Blaze improved to 29-23, and moved to within 2.5 games of San Jose in the Cal League North. The series with the Giants continues tomorrow afternoon at 12:35pm, with Daniel Renken going for the Blaze, and Ryan Bradley, a southpaw, for the Giants. Tune in live at BakersfieldBlaze.com to hear Dan Besbris call all the action in another intense showdown between the two top teams in the league.
The starting pitchers each had a rough go of it. For San Jose, Hector Correa (L, 1-1) managed just 2.2 innings, battling decisive fits of wildness. Correa walked 5, hit a batter, and was responsible for 5 runs, all in the 3rd inning. Justice French, the Blaze starter, did not fare much better. After sailing through the first 3 innings, French allowed 2 singles, 2 walks and an Andrew Susac grand slam homer, and before the Blaze knew it, the Giants scored 5 of their own to cut a 6-0 Blaze lead down to 6-5.
All the credit in the world tonight must go to the Blaze pen, a group of guys that suffered through a tough homestand. Pat Doyle (W, 4-2), entered with 2 outs in the 4th inning, and promptly retired 10 men in a row to get through the 7th. After the Blaze scored their 7th run, a valuable insurance tally, on a Jaren Matthews double, Jamie Walczak (S, 1) pitched the final 2 innings, allowing just a single to Adam Duvall, for his first save of the year.
The game also featured a bevvy of key baserunning moments. Billy Hamilton stole his 55th in the 1st inning, but was caught trying to take 3rd. Bakersfield had 3 men thrown out trying to steal, had 2 men thrown out at the plate, and 1 man allowed to score on a controversial obstruction call. But when all was said and done, the Blaze prevailed in a huge game.
With the win, the Blaze improved to 29-23, and moved to within 2.5 games of San Jose in the Cal League North. The series with the Giants continues tomorrow afternoon at 12:35pm, with Daniel Renken going for the Blaze, and Ryan Bradley, a southpaw, for the Giants. Tune in live at BakersfieldBlaze.com to hear Dan Besbris call all the action in another intense showdown between the two top teams in the league.