Blaze Suffer Wednesday Walkoff Defeat to Giants, 7-6
Published on August 1, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
In another highly entertaining, back-and-forth ballgame, the San Jose Giants once again prevailed over the Bakersfield Blaze, this time with some drama, walking off to get the win, 7-6.
Daniel Renken got the start for the Blaze, and things began a bit shaky for the righthander. In the bottom of the first, after the Blaze were retired in the top half, the Giants got 3 hits and a walk, including 2 homers, to take a quick 4-0 lead over Renken and the Blaze.
But Bakersfield was not about to go quietly. In the very next half inning, Bakersfield used Steve Selsky's 11th homer of the year, and hits from Chris Berset, Kurtis Muller, Devin Lohman and Niko Vasquez to come right back with 4 runs of their own and knot the game at 4-4.
The score would remain tied for the next three and a half innings, before the Blaze grabbed their first lead of the night in the 6th. Ryan Bradley, normally very strong with runners on base against Bakersfield, showed signs of weakness tonight, and Bakersfield was able to grab a 5-4 lead with a triple and a single to chase Bradley in the 6th.
However, just as the Blaze came back earlier, the Giants did likewise in the 6th inning. With 2 outs, Jarrett Parker got himself aboard on a 2-foot single out in front of the plate, and Dan Burkhart drove him in to tie the game at 5-5.
In the 7th, the Blaze scratched another across to grab a second lead in as many innings. With Craig Whitaker on the hill, Travis Mattair led off the frame with a double, and scored later in the inning on a Juan Duran pop-fly single to right, and the Blaze went up 6-5.
The Blaze pen then tossed 2.0 shutout frames to hold the Giants at bay, before the pivotal 9th.
In for his second inning of relief, Kyle McMyne (L, 2-2) allowed a flare single to Jarrad Page and a bunt single to Chris Lofton to begin the inning. Carter Jurica dropped down a perfect sacrifice, and the Giants put runners at 2nd and 3rd with 1 man out. After an intentional walk to Joe Panik, Adam Duvall blooped a 1-2 fastball into leftfield, scoring 2 runs, and sending the Giants home with a walkoff win.
The victory went to Edward Concepcion (W, 3-3), who worked 2.0 scoreless frames for the Giants.
The loss drops the Blaze to just 16-23 in the second half, to 57-52 overall, and means the Blaze will also lose its 3rd straight series.
The series with the Giants concludes Thursday at 12:30pm, with Tim Crabbe opposing Justin Schumer. Make sure to tune in to the broadcast at BakersfieldBlaze.com, as Dan Besbris calls all the action 10 minutes prior to first pitch.
California League Stories from August 1, 2012
- Blaze Suffer Wednesday Walkoff Defeat to Giants, 7-6 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Tremor/Matt Kemp Poster Giveaway Tonight - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- High Desert Hits, Storm Fall 12-3 - Lake Elsinore Storm
- JetHawks News: Lancaster Ties It in Ninth, Falls in 10th - Lancaster JetHawks
- Quakes Trip up Late on Tuesday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Two-Out Hits Fuel 8-6 Win over Blaze - San Jose Giants
- Giants Outlast Blaze in Wild One, 8-6 - Bakersfield Blaze
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