Wildness Hurts Blaze in 14-4 Loss
May 16, 2013 - California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
After a strong stretch for Bakersfield Blaze pitching where the team had drastically cut down on free passes, the club suffered a minor road bump on Thursday, issuing nine walks to the Stockton Ports in a difficult 14-4 road defeat at Banner Island Ballpark.
The game looked promising early, but the good vibrations did not last long. In the top of the 1st, Stockton journeyman Sergio Perez allowed a one-out single to Kyle Waldrop, and with two outs, Juan Duran homered for the second straight game.
From there, the game was all Ports.
Stockton scored in each of the game's first five innings, posting a single run in the 1st to cut the Blaze lead to 2-1, then taking the lead for good in the 2nd.
Jacob Johnson (L, 3-2) got the start for Bakersfield, and after a series of strong outings, Johnson struggled this afternoon keeping the sinker down in the zone. Jacob allowed six runs (four earned) over just 2.1 innings, and Ken Griffey Sr. was forced to go to the pen early.
The Blaze did get a run in the top of the 4th inning to cut the deficit to 6-3 when newly added Blaze Steve Selsky hit a solo homer, but the Ports came right back and added more.
Brooks Pinckard was the first man out of the bullpen for Bakersfield, but wildness hurt Brooks and Wes Mugarian (who followed), as the Ports scored two in the bottom half, and took an 8-3 advantage to the 5th.
At that point, the Ports went to their own bullpen, and Seth Frankoff (W, 2-0) allowed a walk and a Juan Silverio RBI double in the 5th, but was granted the win.
In the bottom of the 5th, Stockton put one more run on the board, scoring on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly off Jimmy Moran to go up, 9-4.
The game picked up speed in the 6th, as Ports reliever Jose Macias set the Blaze down in order, and Moran did likewise in the bottom half. Macias continued through the 7th, and Carlos Gonzalez tossed a scoreless bottom half.
But, after the Blaze were set down in the top of the 8th by Omar Duran, Kyle McMyne ran into trouble in the home portion of the frame -- Stockton ended up batting around on Kyle, adding five runs, and going up by the final margin, 14-4.
Jonathan Joseph finished the game for the Ports.
The loss for the Blaze drops the team to 0-6 at Banner Island Ballpark this year, and 0-2 on the current four game road trip through Stockton.
The team will try to bounce back from a tough loss Friday night as the teams go head-to-head in a traditional evening start time. The Blaze will hand the ball to Jonathan Moscot, as the big righthander continues to look for his first win of the year, and the Ports will counter with their ace, Drew Granier.
Fans can listen to all the action on Friday night, as Dan Besbris brings the call live on internet and radio, through BakersfieldBlaze.com or locally on SmartTalk AM-1230. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10pm, with the pregame show beginning ten minutes prior.
• Discuss this story on the California League message board...
California League Stories from May 16, 2013
- Ports Swing Their Way to 14-4 Win - Stockton Ports
- Wildness Hurts Blaze in 14-4 Loss - Bakersfield Blaze
- Peters Paces Ports to 2-1 Win - Stockton Ports
- Blaze Take Series with 5-2 Victory - Modesto Nuts
- Giants Defeat Lilly, Quakes in Road Trip Opener - San Jose Giants
- 66ers Can'T Finish Comeback, Fall 11-7 - Inland Empire 66ers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
