May 25, 2013
138
Games Today




Visiting Nuts Score Late, Blaze Fall 6-4

June 29, 2012 - California League (CalL) Bakersfield Blaze

In a see-saw game, it was the road Modesto Nuts who got the final three laughs, coming from being to beat the Bakersfield Blaze 6-4 on Thursday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

The two teams got their runs in vastly different manners. On the Blaze side, after being retired on a pair of singles the first time through the lineup by Nuts starter Kennil Gomez, the team came alive the second time through. Five hits and a walk from nine batters led to 3 quick runs over the 3rd and 4th innings, and the Blaze turned an early 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead.

The Nuts got their runs early on a 3-hit rally in the first and a Mark Tracy solo homer in the 2nd, but largely went to sleep thereafter until late in the game.

Blaze starter Daniel Renken allowed 4 hits to the first 6 batters before setting down 7 in a row; then, after a double in the 5th, Renken set down 10 straight. However, every time Modesto had a chance to score, they did. The Nuts plated that double to tie the game at 3 runs.

Bakersfield retook the lead in the 6th inning, but that frame largely proved to be the pivotal one. Bakersfield opened the inning with a single and a walk to bring up Dominic D'Anna. D'Anna, who finished with a perfect 4-for-4 night, singled to center, and Rafael Ortega fired another in a season full of laser beams to the plate to cut down Donald Lutz, and the Blaze ended up getting just 1 run in the inning.

In the 8th, the Nuts tied it up. Daniel Renken, working on a fantastic outing at that point, retired the first two before Brett Tanos clubbed a 3-1 fastball over the wall in left to tie the game at 4-4. Then, one inning later, Brooks Pinckard (L, 2-5) entered from the pen and struggled to find the plate. Pinckard walked 3 of the first 4 batters he faced before Christhian Adames doubled in two and gave Modesto a lead it would not relinquish.

The win went to Kurt Yacko (W, 5-2), who worked 2.1 innings of scoreless relief, and Adam Jorgensen finished the game with his 16th save of the year.

With the loss, the Blaze falls to 45-33 overall and 4-4 in the second half. The series with Modesto continues Friday night at 7:45pm with a classic Fireworks Friday contest pitting Pat Doyle of the Blaze against first round pick Tyler Matzek of the Nuts. Tickets are still available at BakersfieldBlaze.com.

Can't make it to the game? Listen LIVE online and on radio through the Blaze gameday audio link at BakersfieldBlaze.com or locally on SmartTalk AM-1230, respectively, the home of the Blaze Friday and Saturday Games of the Week. Dan Besbris calls all the action at 7:35pm - don't miss it!

• Discuss this story on the California League message board...
• Digg this story
• Add to Del.icio.us


California League Stories from June 29, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.