We Have Liftoff; Blaze Mash 3 Homers in 6-3 Victory
July 27, 2014 - California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
Sean Buckley, Marquez Smith and, much later, Harold Riggins belted colossal homers on Sunday evening in Lake Elsinore, and the Bakersfield Blaze held the Storm at bay, winning the finale of a four game set 6-3 and salvaging a nice series split from the top team in the south.
The Blaze struck first in this Sunday affair, with Sean Buckley and Marquez Smith launching booming homers to left in the top of the 2nd inning, back-to-back, for the 2-0 lead. But the Storm came right back in the home half with a run on two hits, cutting the Blaze lead in half.
And that's how the score would remain for quite some time. Drew Cisco (W, 5-5), who made his 22nd start of the year, battled through 5.0 innings, and left with the 2-1 edge. Elliott Morris (L, 1-1), making his second start for the Storm, did likewise through 6.0 innings, only allowing the two homers and no other hits.
In the 7th, Bakersfield got the engines going. After struggling to find a hit for four innings, the Blaze got a two-out walk of Harold Riggins, a double for Sammy Diaz, and David Vidal's two-run single to move in front 4-1.
Meanwhile, Cisco finished his battle, and Kyle McMyne began a new one, wiggling through two scoreless innings of relief before turning the game over to El'Hajj Muhammad in the 8th.
And El had his first truly tough inning. A double, two singles, a walk and a wild pitch made it 4-3 Blaze, but Bakersfield cut down the tying run at the plate on a ball in the dirt, and took the lead into the 9th.
And there, the Blaze built upon it, as, with one out, Smith walked before Harold Riggins hit one of the longest homers of the year, well above the wall in centerfield, 400-feet away, putting Bakersfield up 6-3.
And Jacob Johnson (S, 2) finished it off with a lightning-quick 9th.
With the four game road trip in the rear view, the Blaze turn their attention to the Visalia Rawhide, who come to Sam Lynn over the next three days on a very brief Bakersfield homestand.
The series begins with a Bakersfield classic -- Dollar Monday, presented by Bakersfield Hyundai, with admission and hot dogs just one buck apiece! In addition, fans should note that due to earlier sunset times, Blaze home games move back to 7:30pm beginning on Monday. Gates open at 6:30pm.
The matchup should be a good one on the field, as well, as Spencer Arroyo and Wandy Peralta do battle in a showdown of southpaws.
Can't make it out? Listen to every moment live online as Dan Besbris brings the call at BakersfieldBlaze.com and TuneIn Radio; the pregame show is set to begin five minutes before first pitch.
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California League Stories from July 27, 2014
- We Have Liftoff; Blaze Mash 3 Homers in 6-3 Victory - Bakersfield Blaze
- Balanced Offense Keys Nuts' 6-2 Win - Modesto Nuts
- Alderson, Ports Blank JetHawks 6-0 - Stockton Ports
- Quakes Drop Third Straight to Mavs - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Rawhide Rout Giants, Take Third Straight in Series - San Jose Giants
- Ports Shut Out JetHawks in Stockton - Lancaster JetHawks
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