Dennhardt and Smith Do It Again, Bako Tops Hide 6-4
July 30, 2014 - California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
For the second time in six days, Mike Dennhardt worked 7.0 innings, and Marquez Smith powered the offense, as the Bakersfield Blaze snapped visiting Visalia's 12-game winning streak with a 6-4 win over the Rawhide on Tuesday night in Bakersfield.
The story was quite similar to the opener in Lake Elsinore last Thursday. Blaze starter Mike Dennhardt (W, 6-6) allowed a solo homer in the 1st inning, but was dominant from that point on. Mike scattered four singles over the next six innings, striking out three Rawhide batters without a walk.
Meanwhile, the Blaze offense got most of what they would need from Marquez Smith.
In the 2nd inning, Smith drew a walk and scored the tying run on a Juan Perez base hit, but Smith made his biggest impact in the 3rd.
With Rawhide starter Andrew Barbosa (L, 3-2) fighting his command, the Blaze managed to load the bases on a hit batter and two walks, bringing up Smith. Marquez worked himself a 3-and-0 count, and for the third time this year, Smith was green-lighted and mashed a homer, this time a grand slam shot to put the Blaze ahead 5-1.
That slam also gave Smith 100 total RBI between two levels, making him the first minor leaguer at any level to reach that plateau.
Bakersfield would add a sixth run in the 5th inning off reliever Justin Van Grouw on a walk, a single, and a groundout.
James Allen pitched a scoreless 8th, but the 9th got interesting.
Sean Lucas began the inning by allowing three straight hits, forcing the Blaze to go to closer Jacob Johnson (S, 3). Johnson quickly retired two, but the Rawhide extended the frame with a walk and a hit, scoring three times and bringing the go-ahead run to the plate. But Johnson got a flyball from Kevin Medrano to end it, and secured the 6-4 Blaze win.
The win snaps the Rawhide winning streak at 12, and gives Bakersfield wins in two of the last three games, as well as a chance to win the series with a victory on Wednesday.
And indeed, the Blaze and Rawhide wrap up the short three-game set Wednesday at 7:30pm, as Braden Shipley, the Diamondbacks first rounder, will oppose Dan Wright for Bakersfield.
Wednesday is another electronic waste fundraiser, with Alianza Recycling collecting e-waste at the yard. Fans bringing electronic donation items get into the game for free, with proceeds going to benefit the Bakersfield Homeless Center.
Can't make it out? Listen to Dan Besbris live online at BakersfieldBlaze.com and TuneIn Radio, as Besbris calls every moment of Blaze action. Gates open at 6:30pm to fans, first pitch is set for 7:30pm, and the broadcast begins five minutes before first pitch.
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- Dennhardt and Smith Do It Again, Bako Tops Hide 6-4 - Bakersfield Blaze
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