Comeback Falls One Shy in Rancho
May 3, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
The script was flipped, if only for a night, as on Monday evening in Rancho Cucamonga, the Bakersfield Blaze did not get a strong starting pitching effort, the bullpen excelled, and the offense fell one buck short in a comeback bid against the Quakes, falling 4-3.
Eddie Campbell (L, 2-1) was shaky from the outset, issuing four walks and hitting a batter during a twenty minute bottom of the 1st inning, but somehow escaped allowing just a single tally. But after a scoreless bottom of the 2nd, things began to unravel.
The Quakes plated a run in the 3rd and two more in the 4th to chase the Blaze starter, who ended up going just 3.1 innings while walking seven batters.
The bullpen, which has taken a great deal of flak for the Blaze's early-season struggles, performed admirably tonight, with Ronald Dominguez working 2.2 scoreless frames with four strikeouts, and Aaron Brooks utilizing his sinker and some amazing defense to breeze through two shutout innings of his own. With outfielders and infielders alike turning in highlight reel plays, this game began to feel like one the Blaze might just steal, but Rancho had other notions.
Starter Josh Sborz (W, 2-1) was dynamite, retiring the first 12 Blaze he faced before allowing a walk in the 5th and giving up the first hit to the Blaze in the 6th. That seemed to spark the Blaze, who took a few innings to shake off some of the drowsiness of a long road trip and posted a single run in the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings.
In the 6th, a balk brought home Gianfranco Wawoe, who broke up the no-hit bid earlier in the frame with a double; in the 7th, Kyle Petty launched his third homer of the year into the tree-line in leftfield; and in the 8th, Drew Jackson tripled and walked home on a groundout.
But after drawing to within just one run, the Blaze were unable to clear the hurdle. Scott Griggs (S, 4) worked around a walk, a single and an error in the 9th - thanks, in part, to a man caught stealing - and the Blaze lost the opener of this four-game midweek set, 4-3.
The series in Rancho Cucamonga continues in another 7:05pm start on Tuesday night with Andrew Moore going arm-to-arm with Rancho's Andrew Sopko. Dan Besbris has the call live at BakersfieldBlaze.com and via TuneIn Radio.
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California League Stories from May 3, 2016
- Early Offensive Outburst Carries Giants to 13-7 Win - San Jose Giants
- San Jose's Fast Start Sinks Stockton 13-7 - Stockton Ports
- Daniel Nava Rehabs with the 66ers - Inland Empire 66ers
- Pimentel's Blasts Not Enough as Ports Fall 5-2 - Stockton Ports
- Comeback Falls One Shy in Rancho - Bakersfield Blaze
- Reyes Pitches Giants to Victory over Ports - San Jose Giants
- Streak Ends with 5-4 Win over Storm - Modesto Nuts
- Quakes Back on Track, Hold off Blaze - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Hernandez Sharp In Series Opening Loss - Lancaster JetHawks
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