Blaze Avoid Being No-Hit but Fall 5-0
May 24, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
For nearly seven innings, the High Desert Mavericks starting pitcher Richelson Pena was perfect, but a one-out single in the 7th broke up the perfect game. The emotional swing did not hurt the Mavs, as the Bakersfield Blaze mustered just one additional hit while falling 5-0 on a windy Saturday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark in Bakersfield.
The story on this evening was undoubtedly the work of Richelson Pena (W, 2-3), who was already coming off a seven-inning, one unearned run performance against the Blaze six days back. Pena one-upped himself tonight, retiring the first 19 Blaze hitters, and not allowing a ball outside the infield for the first six innings.
In the 7th, with one out, Tim Lopes hit a pop up in foul ground off first base, and on a windy night, Ronald Guzman misplayed it for an error, extending the at-bat. Two pitches later, Lopes grounded a single into leftfield to break the no-hitter. Pena would exit after seven innings, and Jefri Hernandez worked the final two frames to seal the shutout.
On the Blaze side, Ryan Yarbrough (L, 2-4) turned in his longest outing of the 2015 season, going 6.2 innings, but the Mavs were able to put up a run early, and that would be all they would need.
An RBI double plated a run in the 2nd, and Royce Bolinger's two-run homer in the 4th gave High Desert a 3-0 lead. One more in the 7th ended Yarbrough's night, and a final run in the 9th off Dylan Unsworth brought this one to its final margin of 5-0.
The loss drops the Blaze to 1-5 against the Mavericks in head-to-head play, with another two to go in the series. The club is now 2-3 on the homestand with a chance to make it a winning one on Sunday and Monday.
The Sunday midday contest has been moved to a 1:00pm start time. Gates open at 12:00pm, with Kids Invited to Run the Bases after the ballgame.
Dan Altavilla will oppose Luis Parra in a fine midday matchup.
Can't make it out? Listen to Dan Besbris on BakersfieldBlaze.com or TuneIn Radio, with pregame show set to begin at 12:55pm.
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California League Stories from May 24, 2015
- Ports Blow Late Lead, Fall to Storm 6-5 in 11 - Stockton Ports
- Timely Hitting Secures 8-7 Win - Modesto Nuts
- Late Rally Propels Giants to Sixth Straight Win - San Jose Giants
- Seven-Run Fifth Highlights 'Hawks Win - Lancaster JetHawks
- Blaze Lose Heartbreaker, 4-3, in Extras - Bakersfield Blaze
- Skid Reaches Six for Quakes - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Blaze Avoid Being No-Hit but Fall 5-0 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Late Pop Dooms Nuts - Modesto Nuts
- Beede Birthday Bash at Muni as Giants Roll 11-0 - San Jose Giants
- Covey Cruises in 4-2 Ports Win - Stockton Ports
- Comeback Falls Short against Inland Empire - Lancaster JetHawks
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