Third Walkoff in Four Nights for Blaze
August 19, 2014 - California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
A homestand of epic proportions, indeed. The Bakersfield Blaze, for the third time in a four-game sweep of the visiting Lancaster Jethawks, delivered a walkoff win, this time on a 9th-inning sacrifice fly, and enjoyed an on-field dog-pile in a 5-4 final.
Drew Cisco got the start, and fought through a rocky beginning before settling down as the Jethawks plated runs in each of the first three innings to grab a 4-1 lead.
The Blaze, meanwhile, struggled to square up Lance McCullers for the first five innings, scoring a run in the 1st on an error, a walk, and two singles (Marquez Smith collected RBI number 117).
The tide began to turn in the 4th.
Cisco settled down and delivered scoreless 4th and 5th innings to keep the Blaze within striking distance just in time for McCullers to run out of gas.
In the 6th, back-to-back walks from McCullers set the table for the Blaze, and with one out, Sebastian Elizalde doubled in both runners to cut the deficit to 4-3. After a pitching change to Daniel Minor, Sammy Diaz came up with a huge knock, scoring Elizalde to tie the game at 4 runs apiece.
The Blaze bullpen was the story in the late frames. Jimmy Moran worked the 6th, 7th and 8th, facing and retiring all nine batters he faced, and Layne Somsen (W, 2-2) pitched a spotless 9th, turning the game over to the Blaze ultra-dramatic offense.
And the offense delivered again. Diaz began the 9th with a double off Jamaine Cotton (L, 1-4), advancing to third base on a sacrifice bunt (and error). Brent Peterson stepped to the dish, and sliced the first pitch into rightfield, deep enough to score the run, and the Blaze emerged victorious on another walkoff, this time a sacrifice fly, and the third walkoff win on the homestand.
The victory is also the fourth in a row for the Blaze, who finish the four game homestand with a sweep of the Jethawks, and move back to 72-55 on the season with 13 to play.
The next series takes Bakersfield to San Bernardino for the only visit to San Manuel Stadium, a three-game set, Tuesday through Thursday with the Inland Empire 66ers.
The opener will pit Dan Tobik of Inland Empire against Wandy Peralta of the Blaze in a 7:05pm start on the road.
Fans are encouraged to listen to every second of Blaze baseball live on the internet as Dan Besbris brings the call at BakersfieldBlaze.com and via the TuneIn Radio app. Pregame show begins five minutes before scheduled first pitch.
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California League Stories from August 19, 2014
- San Jose Giants Homestand Preview: August 19 - August 24 - San Jose Giants
- San Jose Giants on Deck: Final Homestand of the Regular Season Begins Tonight - San Jose Giants
- Nuts Falter Late in 5-3 Loss - Modesto Nuts
- Stockton Earns Series Split with 7-3 Win - Stockton Ports
- Urias Dazzles, But Quakes Drop Series-Finale - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Third Walkoff in Four Nights for Blaze - Bakersfield Blaze
- Giants Drop Series Finale to Ports, 7-3 - San Jose Giants
- JetHawks Swept by Blaze with Walk Off - Lancaster JetHawks
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