Late Lead Slips Away in 7-6 Loss to Blaze
April 20, 2014 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
BAKERSFIELD - The Bakersfield Blaze scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to rally past the San Jose Giants, 7-6, on Saturday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark. The Giants were unable to hold a late 6-1 advantage as Bakersfield salvaged the final game in the three-game series. The loss snapped San Jose's season-high win streak at four.
Jesus Galindo (3-for-5, 2 2B) had three hits, including a pair of doubles while Nick Noonan (2-for-5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) homered in his return to the California League to lead the offense. Mac Williamson (2-for-5, 2B, RBI) and Chuckie Jones (2-for-3, RBI) also contributed two hits apiece.
Giants starter Joe Biagini limited the Blaze to a single run over six innings of work and left the game with a 5-1 lead. Biagini allowed five hits, issued one walk and struck out four during his 78-pitch performance.
San Jose enjoyed a 6-1 advantage when Ryan Bradley was summoned from the bullpen to begin the bottom of the seventh. Bakersfield's John Tolisano started the frame by drawing a walk before Chris Berset hammered a double off the wall in left center to put runners on second and third. Zach Vincej followed with a sacrifice fly to right plating Tolisano bringing the Blaze to within 6-2. Bradley then set down the next two batters to maintain the four-run lead.
Bakersfield though kept the pressure on in the bottom of the eighth as Jesse Winker drew a leadoff walk before Seth Mejias-Brean stepped to the plate and lined a two-run home run to left. The homer, Mejias-Brean's third of the season, trimmed the Giants lead to 6-4. After the following batter, Kyle Waldrop, singled, Bradley was removed from the game in favor of Ian Gardeck. Marquez Smith was up next and he laced a single into left to put the tying run on base. Tolisano then dropped down a sacrifice bunt, but reached safely when Gardeck threw wildly to first for an error. The miscue allowed Waldrop to score while Smith advanced to third and Tolisano took second. Gardeck then plunked Berset to load the bases before pinch-hitter Ryan Wright came through with an RBI groundout to tie the game 6-6.
With runners on second and third, the Giants intentionally walked Juan Perez to load the bases, but Juan Silva followed by lining a 2-0 pitch into left field for a single. The hit scored Tolisano giving the Blaze their first lead of the series at 7-6. The bases remained loaded, but Mason McVay entered from the bullpen and induced back-to-back pop-outs to finally end the inning. Bakersfield sent 11 batters to the plate in the bottom of the eighth scoring five runs on four hits with two walks, a hit batter and one error.
Blaze closer Carlos Gonzalez worked a 1-2-3 top of the ninth to seal the Blaze victory. Jacob Johnson (1-0), who pitched a scoreless eighth inning, was credited with the win. Gonzalez earned his third save of the year.
Gardeck (0-1) was saddled with the loss after he was charged with two runs (one earned) on two hits in 1/3 of an inning. Bradley yielded four runs (all earned) on three hits with two walks in his one inning of work.
San Jose jumped out to an early 5-0 lead scoring three times in the top of the first and two runs in the second. Galindo began the game with a double before Mitch Delfino reached on a one-out error. Williamson then grounded a double down the left field line to bring home Galindo with the first run of the night. Consecutive RBI singles from the next two hitters, Brian Ragira and Jones, extended the lead to 3-0.
In the top of the second, Galindo doubled with one out bringing Noonan to the plate, who launched a two-run home run to deep right center. The round-tripper pushed the Giants lead to 5-0.
Meanwhile, the only run Biagini allowed came in the bottom of the second when Smith led off with a double before scoring two batters later on Berset's groundout. The San Jose starter retired eight straight hitters until Smith's two-out single in the bottom of the fourth. After a perfect fifth inning, Biagini worked around two singles in the bottom of the sixth.
The Giants extended their lead to 6-1 on Trevor Brown's two-out, RBI single in the top of the seventh.
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California League Stories from April 20, 2014
- Stockton Snaps Skid with 3-1 Win - Stockton Ports
- Late Lead Slips Away in 7-6 Loss to Blaze - San Jose Giants
- Blaze Rally from Five Down, Steal Finale 7-6 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Nuts Strand 12 in 3-1 Loss - Modesto Nuts
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