Blaze Shut Down Giants in Series Opener, 2-0
September 5, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
BAKERSFIELD, CA - Blaze starting pitcher Tyler Pike tossed seven scoreless innings in a 2-0 Bakersfield victory over the San Jose Giants on Friday evening at Sam Lynn Ballpark. The Blaze took advantage of two San Jose errors to score twice in the bottom of the fourth and then held on late to secure the series-opening win. The loss trims the Giants' (42-25) lead over Visalia (41-26) to one game in the second half North Division race. Three games remain in the regular season.
Pike (6-6), who took a no-hitter into the sixth, allowed just three hits and struck out seven during his dominant stint on the mound to pick-up the win. Down by two runs, San Jose loaded the bases in the top of the ninth inning, but Bakersfield closer Kyle Schepel escaped as Daniel Carbonell was thrown out at the plate to end the game as he attempted to score on a pitch in the dirt.
Martin Agosta (5-9) suffered a tough-luck loss for the Giants. The Giants starter matched a season-high with nine strikeouts and surrendered just two unearned runs over six solid innings of work. Agosta scattered seven hits and walked two.
Carbonell (2-for-4) extended his hitting streak to nine games in the loss.
The only two runs of the night came in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Chantz Mack hit a high pop up on the infield that was dropped by third baseman Brandon Bednar for a two-base error. Rayder Ascanio then smashed a double off the fence in deep left center. Mack scored on the hit and when the relay throw home from shortstop Christian Arroyo skipped past catcher Ty Ross for another error, Ascanio also scored to make it 2-0.
Agosta pitched out of trouble throughout the remainder of his outing. He used a double play to end the second inning. In the bottom of the third, the Blaze put runners on first and second with one out, but Agosta notched consecutive strikeouts of Tyler O'Neill and Austin Wilson to end the threat. In the fifth, Aaron Barbosa led off with a single before Nelson Ward walked, however Agosta recovered with three straight swinging strikeouts of O'Neill, Wilson and Kyle Petty. Then in the sixth, Ascanio singled with one out, but a double play from the next hitter, Jay Baum, retired the side.
San Jose though was unable to generate any offense against Pike. Their only baserunners over the first five innings were a leadoff walk to Seth Harrison in the third and Carbonell reaching on a one-out error in the fourth. Finally with two outs in the sixth, Bednar laced a double into right center field gap for the first Giants hit of the game. Pike though came back to set down Arroyo on a groundout to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh, Carbonell led off with a bunt single before a two-out infield single from Horan put runners on first and second. Pike though ended his night with a swinging strikeout of Harrison to keep the score at 2-0.
Bakersfield reliever Grady Wood needed just nine pitches to breeze through a 1-2-3 top of the eighth before the Giants mounted a rally in the ninth. After Arroyo struck out to leadoff, Carbonell blooped a single into shallow left center. Angel Villalona then singled before Brian Ragira grounded a single into left to load the bases. Schepel was then summoned from the bullpen and he struck out Horan looking on a 3-2 pitch for the second out of the inning. Harrison was up next and the first pitch of his at-bat was in the dirt and bounced past catcher Daniel Torres. Carbonell attempted to score on the play, but Torres quickly played the carom and tossed the ball to Schepel, who tagged out the sliding Carbonell to end the game.
Schepel was credited with his fourth save of the season.
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California League Stories from September 5, 2015
- Quakes Rumble Early, Down Sixers - Inland Empire 66ers
- Blaze Shut Down Giants in Series Opener, 2-0 - San Jose Giants
- Holberton Homer Caps Dramatic Win - Lancaster JetHawks
- Snake Whisperer Tames Giants - Bakersfield Blaze
- Nuts Strike Early and Hang on in 7-4 Win - Modesto Nuts
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