Blaze Cruise Past Giants, 8-2

BAKERSFIELD - Bakersfield's Daniel Wright took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and the Blaze smacked three home runs in an 8-2 series-opening victory over the San Jose Giants on Tuesday evening at Sam Lynn Ballpark. San Jose finished the contest with only four hits as the Giants suffered their third consecutive defeat.

Tyler Horan's (1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI) eighth-inning two-run home run accounted for all of the San Jose offense on Tuesday. Mitch Delfino (2-for-4, 2B), who broke up the no-hitter with leadoff single in the top of the eighth, was the only Giants player to finish with a multi-hit game.

Bakersfield built a 7-0 lead after four innings against San Jose starter Pat Young before cruising to the win. In the bottom of the first, Zach Vincej ripped a one-out triple into the right center field gap before Jeff Gelalich stepped to the plate and blasted a two-run homer to straightaway center.

The Blaze extended their lead with four more runs in the bottom of the third. A 10-pitch walk with one out to Vincej started the rally before Gelalich grounded a single into right. Sean Buckley was up next and he laced a double down the left field line to plate Vincej and then Marquez Smith belted a three-run home run to left center for a 6-0 advantage.

Bakersfield added another run in the fourth against Young as Sebastian Elizalde led off with a double to deep left center and eventually scored on Vincej's two-out single.

Young (9-4) suffered his first loss in six starts after yielding seven runs (all earned) on nine hits in four innings. The right-hander walked one and struck out two.

Jorge Bucardo (3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) and Tyler Mizenko (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) both worked out of the Giants bullpen. The Blaze pushed their lead to 8-0 in the bottom of the sixth when Elizalde connected for a solo home run off of Bucardo.

Meanwhile, Wright faced the minimum 21 hitters over the first seven innings. San Jose's only baserunner over the seven frames was in the top of the fourth when Jesus Galindo reached on a fielding error committed by third baseman Brent Peterson. Galindo, however, was promptly picked-off at first. 

Wright had retired 11 consecutive batters until Delfino led off the top of the eighth with a sharp groundball single up the middle - the Giants' first hit of the game. Horan then stepped to the plate and lined an opposite-field two-run homer to left center. The home run cut the lead to 8-2.

Ben Turner followed the home run with a single before Chuckie Jones grounded into a force play for the first out. Wright was then removed from the game in favor of El'Hajj Muhammad, who walked Scott Price to put runners on first and second. San Jose though was unable to further cut into the lead as Sam Mende struck out and Galindo grounded out to end the inning.

In the top of the ninth against Muhammad, Delfino doubled into the right center field gap with two outs before Horan drew a walk. However, Turner followed with a fly out to deep left center to finish the contest.

Wright (7-4) earned the win after limiting the Giants to two runs (both earned) on three hits in 7 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked none during his 96-pitch effort.

Notes: Bakersfield out-hit San Jose 13-4 … Brandon Bednar (0-for-3, BB) saw his hitting streak end at 13 games … The hitting streak is the second-longest by a Giants player this season (Blake Miller 15 games) … Horan has hit two home runs in his first four games with San Jose … Giants staring pitchers have combined to allow 19 runs (18 earned) over nine innings in the last three games - all losses … Outfielder Ryan Lollis (0-for-4) was added to the San Jose roster from Double-A Richmond before the game … Catcher Matt Pare was placed on the disabled list.

On Deck: The Giants and Blaze play a doubleheader on Wednesday at Sam Lynn Ballpark to wrap-up their three-game series. The twinbill gets underway at 11:00 AM. Both games of the doubleheader will be seven innings. Martin Agosta (1-2, 10.17 ERA) and Kendry Flores (4-6, 4.12 ERA) are scheduled to start for San Jose while Bakersfield is expected to counter with Ismael Guillon (0-4, 6.59 ERA) in the first game. The Blaze have not announced a starter for the second game. Both games of the doubleheader can be heard live on sjgiants.com.