Giants Suffer 7-4 Loss to Blaze
July 26, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
BAKERSFIELD, CA - The Bakersfield Blaze scored seven runs in the first four innings and then used stellar relief work throughout the remainder of the contest to post a 7-4 victory over the San Jose Giants on Saturday evening at Sam Lynn Ballpark. San Jose (48-50) managed only one hit over the final four innings against the Blaze bullpen and have now dropped two out of the first three games in the series.
Brian Ragira (2-for-4) had two singles and was the only Giants player to finish the game with more than one hit. Brandon Bednar (1-for-4, 2 RBI) added a pair of RBI's.
For the second time in three days, Bakersfield used a two-run home run from Tyler O'Neill in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. With one out, Tim Lopes hit a fly ball double into the left field corner before O'Neill blasted an 0-1 pitch from San Jose starter Jason Forjet over the fence in right center for an opposite field two-run homer. The home run was O'Neill's team-leading 19th of the season.
The Giants cut the lead in half with a run in the top of the third against Blaze starting pitcher Tyler Pike. Skyler Stromsmoe reached on an error to start the frame before Ty Ross drew a one-out walk. Jeff Kobernus then lined a single into center to load the bases and when center fielder Aaron Barbosa mishandled the ball for an error, Stromsmoe raced home with the first San Jose run of the night. Later in the inning, Daniel Carbonell drew a two-out walk to load the bases, but Pike struck out Angel Villalona to retire the side and keep Bakersfield in front.
The Blaze then erupted for four runs in the bottom of the third knocking Forjet out of the game. A walk to Carlton Tanabe began the inning before Barbosa singled to put runners on first and second. After Lopes dropped down a sacrifice bunt, O'Neill stepped to the plate and laced a double into the left center field gap plating both Tanabe and Barbosa for a 4-1 advantage. The rally continued when Forjet plunked Austin Wilson and then Estarlyn Morales grounded an RBI single into right to make it 5-1. Forjet followed with a strikeout of Kyle Petty, but was then removed from the game. Jeff Soptic entered from the bullpen, but promptly allowed an RBI single to Rayder Ascanio for a 6-1 margin.
The Giants immediately responded with three runs in the top of the fourth to trim the Bakersfield lead to 6-4. With one out, Ragira singled before Stromsmoe was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch advanced the runners and then Bednar lined a single into right center to score both Ragira and Stromsmoe to make it 6-3. Bednar later stole second and then back-to-back two-out walks to Kobernus and Christian Arroyo loaded the bases. Carlos Misell was summoned from the Blaze bullpen and with Carbonell at the plate, the reliever uncorked a wild pitch allowing Bednar to score the third run of the inning. San Jose then had the potential tying runs in scoring position, but Misell retired Carbonell on a sharp line out to second to end the inning.
Bakersfield then came back with a run in the bottom of the fourth against Soptic. With two outs, Barbosa walked before Lopes doubled to put runners on second and third. A Soptic wild pitch then plated Barbosa to make it 7-4.
The Giants had a golden opportunity in the top of the fifth as they loaded the bases with none out, but were unable to score against Misell. After a leadoff walk to Villalona, Tyler Horan singled to deep left center. Ragira then lined a single into right to put the tying run on base. However, Stromsmoe struck out on three pitches, Bednar popped out to shallow center and Ross flied out to right to strand the bases loaded and keep the score at 7-4.
San Jose then didn't have another hitter reach base until the ninth inning. Misell set down the Giants 1-2-3 in the sixth and seventh frames before Rafael Pineda went 3 up, 3 down in the top of the eighth. Pineda quickly set down the first two batters of the top of the ninth before Carbonell reached on an infield single, but Villalona followed by grounding out to end the game.
Misell (3-6) earned the win after tossing 3 1/3 scoreless innings of long relief. He allowed two hits, walked one and struck out three. Pineda pitched the final two innings without surrendering a run to pick-up his fifth save.
O'Neill (2-for-3, 2B, HR, 4 RBI) drove home four out of the seven Blaze runs to lead the Bakersfield offensive attack.
Forjet (3-3) allowed a career-high six runs (all earned) on five hits over 2 2/3 innings to take the loss. He walked one and struck out three.
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California League Stories from July 26, 2015
- Giants Suffer 7-4 Loss to Blaze - San Jose Giants
- Nuts Spring into First with 6-5 Win - Modesto Nuts
- Too Much Tyler; O'Neill Drives in Four in 7-4 Win - Bakersfield Blaze
- Richy, Quakes Outduel Inland Empire - Inland Empire 66ers
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