Nuts Close First Half with 7-4 Loss to Blaze

Bakersfield, CA. - Two big innings doomed the Nuts in a 7-4 loss against the Blaze on Saturday night at John Thurman Field.

Ryan Carpenter (L, 1-3) allowed three runs in the first and fourth innings in his start for the Nuts (23-47). In the first inning, Ryan Wright drove in a run with a RBI single. David Vidal capped the three-run rally by clubbing a two-run double. In the fourth, Zach Vincej got into the fray with a two-run single capping the Blaze (45-25) second three-run rally.

The Nuts held a brief lead after the third inning. With the bases loaded and no outs, Rosell Herrera and Pat Valaika turned in RBI groundouts. Jordan Ribera followed with a two-out, two-run homer. That was all the Nuts offense could muster in the loss on Saturday night. The Blaze bullpen retired the last nine Nuts in a row. Carlos Gonzalez (S, 15) finished things off by striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.

Daniel Wright (W, 3-0) tossed six innings, walking three and striking out five for the Blaze.

With the first-half over, the Nuts will have four days off before they open a four-game home stand starting on Thursday night against the High Desert Mavericks. First pitch on Thursday is at 7:05 p.m. Coverage on ModestoNuts.com will start at 7:00 p.m. To listen on your iPhone or iPad listen live here. For PC and Flash enabled Android phones listen live here.