Ports Swept By Blaze In Twin-Bill
Game 1 was a pitcher's duel to the very end as Ports starter Justin Murray (2-2) dueled with Blaze starter Carlos Pimentel. Both starters retired the first six batters in a row to open the ballgame. Each team had a hit in the third and each team was the beneficiary of a defensive error in that inning, but both teams stranded a pair of baserunners.
Pimentel worked through the seventh inning for the Blaze and turned in his longest outing of the year, keeping Stockton off the board while allowing four hits and striking out three.
Murray allowed a hit in the third, as well as a hit in the fifth, sixth, and seventh, but during that span pitched around trouble to keep the Blaze off the board until the eighth.
In the top of the eighth (extra innings, as both games were set for 7 innings), the Ports put runners at first and second with one out against Blaze reliever Shane Zegerac (2-0). Michael Richard, however, would be caught trying to steal third for the second out, and Zegerac would get Mike Spina to hit into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
Bakersfield would walk off with the win in the last of the eighth. With Murray still on the hill, the Blaze loaded the bases on two walks (one intentional) and a double. Mike Bianucci would end the game with a single to left, scoring David Paisano and giving Bakersfield the 1-0 win in the first game of the twin-bill.
In Game 2, the Ports drew first blood with a run in the second. With the bases loaded and one out, a passed ball was charged to Blaze catcher Dough Hogan, scoring Kala Ka'aihue from third and putting the Ports up 1-0. Stockton couldn't cash in any more runs, however. With runners at second and third and one down, Blaze starter Tim Murphy got back-to-back strikeouts of Shane Keough and Grant Green to end the inning.
The Blaze punched back with three runs in the bottom of the second against Ports starter Scott Deal (0-3). Bianucci led off the inning with a solo home run to left to tie the game at one. Two batters later, Jared Bolden singled to left followed by an RBI double to right from Tommy Mendonca to give the Blaze a 2-1 lead; one they would not relinquish. Two batters later, with two down and Mendonca at second, Andres James doubled to left to score Mendonca and make it 3-1.
Deal, though he'd give up six hits in 3.2 innings of work, would only allow the three runs that scored in the second. Deal would go on to take the loss, striking out one and walking one.
Murphy worked into the fourth inning and was lifted with a runner at first and one out. Tyler Tufts (1-1) would take over in the fourth and after yielding a single to Ryan Ortiz, got two quick outs to end the inning.
The Ports crept closer with a run in the fifth. Stephen Parker led off with a single to left. Three batters later with two down, Tyler Ladendorf singled to center to bring Parker in and make it a 3-2 ballgame. Ladendorf would steal second, but be stranded as Ka'aihue grounded out to end the inning.
The Blaze tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth against Ports reliever Andrew Carignan. With two on and two out, Paisano doubled to right-center, scoring pinch-runner Davis Stoneburner and putting the Blaze lead at 4-2. James, who was trying to score from first, was thrown out on a relay throw to the plate from Barfield and Ladendorf.
Cody Eppley (SV, 4) came on in the seventh and pitched a perfect inning to record his fourth save in as many chances. Blaze pitching, a combination of Tufts and Eppley, retired seven in a row to end the ballgame. Tufts would be credited with the win after allowing a run in 2.2 innings of relief.
The Ports will try and salvage the final game of their set with Bakersfield on Monday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark. Shawn Haviland (2-0, 2.51 ERA) will head to the bump for Stockton, opposed by right-hander Jacob Brigham (1-2, 4.21 ERA) for Bakersfield. First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m. PDT.