Blaze Erupt for 9 Runs, Hold on to Win 9-6
The Lancaster Jethawks scored the final 6 runs of the contest, but the Bakersfield Blaze grabbed the first 9, and that proved to be more than enough on Monday night in the Antelope Valley, with Bakersfield winning the opener of a 3-game set, 9-6.
The Blaze offense set the tone early, scoring 3 runs before the fans could warm their seats. In the top of the first, the first 4 Blaze all reached safely, with Devin Lohman's 2-run homer providing the big punch. Then, two innings later, Bakersfield struck for 4 more on a double, triple, and a David Vidal 2-run bomb. Vidal would later be ejected for arguing balls and strikes, but the Blaze third baseman knocked in 3 runs before his early exit.
The Blaze weren't done, either. After punching Zach Grimmett (L, 1-3) in the gut for 7 runs, Bakersfield got 2 more off reliever Andrew Robinson in the 4th. Bryson Smith doubled in Tucker Barnhart and Devin Lohman for the runs, but the Jethawks pen settled down after that point, allowing just 2 hits the rest of the way.
Tony Cingrani (W, 4-1) got the start for Bakersfield. Riding a 20-inning scoreless streak, Cingrani cruised along for the first 3 frames before running into trouble in the 4th. A leadoff walk, followed by a single and a double plated a run, clearly angering Cingrani. Tony responded by striking out the next 3 batters to stop the rally. The Jethawks would score 4 in the 5th, 3 coming in on a 4-base fielding error, and 1 more in the 7th, but Curtis Partch (S, 1) tossed the final 3 innings to get the 9-out save.
With the win, the Blaze improves to 17-13, and will await the outcome of a San Jose/Modesto matchup up north to see if the team gains ground in the North. The series with Lancaster continues Tuesday night at 7pm with newly added Justice French going for the Blaze, and the sinkerballing Ruben Alaniz for the Jethawks. Listen LIVE to the broadcast on BakersfieldBlaze.com, as Dan Besbris calls all the action; pregame show at 6:50, first pitch at 7:00pm.
The Blaze offense set the tone early, scoring 3 runs before the fans could warm their seats. In the top of the first, the first 4 Blaze all reached safely, with Devin Lohman's 2-run homer providing the big punch. Then, two innings later, Bakersfield struck for 4 more on a double, triple, and a David Vidal 2-run bomb. Vidal would later be ejected for arguing balls and strikes, but the Blaze third baseman knocked in 3 runs before his early exit.
The Blaze weren't done, either. After punching Zach Grimmett (L, 1-3) in the gut for 7 runs, Bakersfield got 2 more off reliever Andrew Robinson in the 4th. Bryson Smith doubled in Tucker Barnhart and Devin Lohman for the runs, but the Jethawks pen settled down after that point, allowing just 2 hits the rest of the way.
Tony Cingrani (W, 4-1) got the start for Bakersfield. Riding a 20-inning scoreless streak, Cingrani cruised along for the first 3 frames before running into trouble in the 4th. A leadoff walk, followed by a single and a double plated a run, clearly angering Cingrani. Tony responded by striking out the next 3 batters to stop the rally. The Jethawks would score 4 in the 5th, 3 coming in on a 4-base fielding error, and 1 more in the 7th, but Curtis Partch (S, 1) tossed the final 3 innings to get the 9-out save.
With the win, the Blaze improves to 17-13, and will await the outcome of a San Jose/Modesto matchup up north to see if the team gains ground in the North. The series with Lancaster continues Tuesday night at 7pm with newly added Justice French going for the Blaze, and the sinkerballing Ruben Alaniz for the Jethawks. Listen LIVE to the broadcast on BakersfieldBlaze.com, as Dan Besbris calls all the action; pregame show at 6:50, first pitch at 7:00pm.