Blaze Win 9th Straight, 6-4!
Steamtrain Blaze keeps on rolling, as the Bakersfield Blaze took care of business once again in Stockton, beating the Ports 6-4 on Tuesday night at Banner Island Ballpark.
This game, unlike the previous night's affair, got off to a back-and-forth start. In the top of the first, speedy Billy Hamilton tripled to begin the ballgame, and came home on a Devin Lohman grounder to give the Blaze a quick 1-0 lead. Stockton would fight back with 2 in the bottom half, as Myrio Richard singled, Josh Whitaker doubled, and a sacrifice fly and single scored each.
That 2-1 edge would not last long for Stockton. Bakersfield tied it right back up in the 2nd on 2 singles and a stolen bag, Bryson Smith's base hit bringing in David Vidal. Then, one inning later, the Blaze capitalized on a Stockton error to take a 3-2 lead; that advantage is one the Blaze would not relinquish.
The pivotal moment came in the top of the 6th. After both starters settled down, Donald Lutz led off the 6th with a single to center, and David Vidal followed with a double to left, moving Lutz to third. Stockton starter Blake Treinen (L, 2-1) jumped ahead of Travis Mattair 0-and-2, but bounced a slider that rolled away from his catcher and allowed Lutz to score an insurance run. Seemingly bothered by the wild pitch, Treinen left the next one up and out over the plate, and Mattair promptly deposited it in the left field bleachers for a 2-run shot and a 6-2 lead.
Stockton would get a run in the bottom half off Josh Smith (W, 1-2), who struck out 9 in 5.2 innings, but the Blaze bullpen locked things down. The combination of Blaine Howell, Curtis Partch and Daniel Wolford (S, 2) allowed just a solo homer over the final 3.1 innings (off Partch), and preserved another narrow Blaze win, the team's 9th in a row.
With win number nine straight, the Blaze kept pace with the Giants in the tight Cal League North, just 0.5 game back. The Blaze and Ports do it again tomorrow; same time, same place, with A.J. Cole (0-2, 4.80) going for the Ports, and Tony Cingrani (1-1, 0.59) for the Blaze. Be sure to listen LIVE to all the action as Dan Besbris calls the play by play on the Blaze internet location, BakersfieldBlaze.com. Pregame show begins at 7pm, first pitch 10 minutes thereafter.
This game, unlike the previous night's affair, got off to a back-and-forth start. In the top of the first, speedy Billy Hamilton tripled to begin the ballgame, and came home on a Devin Lohman grounder to give the Blaze a quick 1-0 lead. Stockton would fight back with 2 in the bottom half, as Myrio Richard singled, Josh Whitaker doubled, and a sacrifice fly and single scored each.
That 2-1 edge would not last long for Stockton. Bakersfield tied it right back up in the 2nd on 2 singles and a stolen bag, Bryson Smith's base hit bringing in David Vidal. Then, one inning later, the Blaze capitalized on a Stockton error to take a 3-2 lead; that advantage is one the Blaze would not relinquish.
The pivotal moment came in the top of the 6th. After both starters settled down, Donald Lutz led off the 6th with a single to center, and David Vidal followed with a double to left, moving Lutz to third. Stockton starter Blake Treinen (L, 2-1) jumped ahead of Travis Mattair 0-and-2, but bounced a slider that rolled away from his catcher and allowed Lutz to score an insurance run. Seemingly bothered by the wild pitch, Treinen left the next one up and out over the plate, and Mattair promptly deposited it in the left field bleachers for a 2-run shot and a 6-2 lead.
Stockton would get a run in the bottom half off Josh Smith (W, 1-2), who struck out 9 in 5.2 innings, but the Blaze bullpen locked things down. The combination of Blaine Howell, Curtis Partch and Daniel Wolford (S, 2) allowed just a solo homer over the final 3.1 innings (off Partch), and preserved another narrow Blaze win, the team's 9th in a row.
With win number nine straight, the Blaze kept pace with the Giants in the tight Cal League North, just 0.5 game back. The Blaze and Ports do it again tomorrow; same time, same place, with A.J. Cole (0-2, 4.80) going for the Ports, and Tony Cingrani (1-1, 0.59) for the Blaze. Be sure to listen LIVE to all the action as Dan Besbris calls the play by play on the Blaze internet location, BakersfieldBlaze.com. Pregame show begins at 7pm, first pitch 10 minutes thereafter.