Blaze Claw Within a Run, Fall Short, 3-2
May 4, 2013 - California League (CalL1) - Bakersfield Blaze News Release
The Bakersfield Blaze fell behind early for the fifth straight game, and, much like previous nights, fought almost all the way back, but fell to the Modesto Nuts on Saturday night at John Thurman Field by a 3-2 tally.
The Nuts scored in the first inning, a frame that has been a problem for the Blaze. Carlos Contreras (L, 1-3) got the start for Bakersfield, and for the fifth straight road game, the Blaze allowed a run in the bottom of the 1st. A leadoff bloop single and a sharp base hit put two aboard for the Nuts, and two outs later a Contreras balk brought in a run to put Modesto up 1-0 early.
The game picked up steam for two innings, with quick 2nd and 3rd frames before the Nuts came to bat in the bottom of a pivotal 4th. Taylor Featherston walked to lead off the frame before Contreras took care of the next two Nuts on a flyball and strikeout. Then, on a 2-1 count to Tyler Massey, Contreras left a fastball over the plate, Massey yanked a flyball down the line, and the curling shot squeezed just inside the foul pole for a two-run homer and a 3-0 Modesto lead.
The Blaze would not be turned away without a fight. Modesto starter Dan Winkler (W, 3-1), working on 5.1 no-hit innings, ran into a small bit of trouble in the 6th. A walk and a single put Blaze at the corners (Chris Berset broke up the no-hit bid), and a sacrifice fly put the Blaze on the board.
In the 7th, an error and a single once again put Blaze at the corners, and Modesto was forced to go to the pen. Leuris Gomez, a California League veteran, entered and got a double play grounder to squash the rally effort. A run scored to bring the Blaze to within a run at 3-2, but Bakersfield would not come close from that point forward.
Each bullpen did its job, with El'Hajj Muhammad and Brian Pearl each tossing a scoreless inning for the Blaze to keep the team within a run, and Gomez and closer Scott Oberg (S, 7) finishing off the final two frames for the Nuts. Oberg, in particular, was impressive, striking out the side for his second straight save.
The loss drops the Blaze to 2-3 on the current road trip and 8-21, overall.
The series with Modesto continues Sunday afternoon at 1:05pm, as the Blaze look for their first win at John Thurman Field in 2013. Jacob Johnson (2-1, 8.02) takes the ball for Bakersfield off a strong bounceback start in San Jose, and Tyler Gagnon (1-2, 7.36) goes for the Nuts.
Make sure to listen to the broadcast of Sunday's action LIVE over the net at BakersfieldBlaze.com. Dan Besbris, your Blaze broadcaster, brings the call at 12:55pm with the Blaze pregame show.
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California League Stories from May 4, 2013
- Lancaster Drops Game, Loses DeShields - Lancaster JetHawks
- Blaze Claw Within a Run, Fall Short, 3-2 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Three in a "Road" for Quakes - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Giants Held to Four Hits in 6-0 Defeat - San Jose Giants
- Big Night for Fontana Mired by Miscue - Lancaster JetHawks
- Late Rally Lifts Rawhide over Ports 6-3 - Stockton Ports
- Modesto Falls in Extras, Dropping Eighth Straight - Modesto Nuts
- Quakes Win Second Straight on the Road - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Eighth-Inning Rally Dooms Giants in 6-3 Loss - San Jose Giants
- Hernandez 3 RBI Leads IE to 8-3 Victory - Inland Empire 66ers
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