Bakersfield Blaze Game Recap 08-13-16: Greatest Comeback Of The Year,
August 14, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
Three times the Bakersfield Blaze trailed by eight runs; twice the Blaze chipped into the lead, only to fall back; one time, the Blaze came all the way back.
Once, the Blaze trailed by a run in extras, and one time the Blaze erased that deficit, winning a marathon game, 14-13, just moments before Saturday turned into Sunday at Sam Lynn Ballpark.
In a game that may be the team's most impressive comeback in a decade, Justin Seager and Jay Baum provided the theatrics.
Seager hit a two-run homer in the 4th, and an RBI single in the 8th, but Justin's biggest swing of the night came in the 9th.
With the bases loaded and Phil Maton on the mound, Seager didn't wait around. A first pitch fastball was right down the pipe, and Justin mauled it, slugging a game-tying grand slam home run that sent the game to extras.
In the 11th, it appeared as though the Storm might prevail. A run off Vinny Nittoli (W, 3-3) put the Blaze down 13-12, but the club had one more miracle.
Drew Jackson came up with an infield single and Chantz Mack walked to put the winning runs aboard, and with two outs, Jay Baum served a flyball that landed softly in rightcenter. Both runs scored, and the Blaze completed a most improbable comeback with a 14-13 win.
Colby Blueberg (L, 2-3) took the defeat for the Storm.
Earlier in the contest, the Blaze trailed 8-0, 10-2 and 12-4, and it took four runs in the 8th and another four in the 9th to even it up. The comeback is the largest for the team this year, and may be the largest over the past decades with record-check pending.
Also of note - the two teams combined for 27 runs on 36 hits and 16 walks, using 13 pitchers in a game that took 4 hours and 28 minutes with an 8-minute mid-game delay for fireworks.
The series wraps up on Sunday, though the homestand continues through Thursday with the Giants of San Jose. Sunday's game is a 7:15pm first pitch, and fans wearing Batman gear get in free.
Can't make it? Listen live at BakersfieldBlaze.com and TuneIn Radio. Dan Besbris brings the call 5 minutes prior to first pitch.
California League Stories from August 14, 2016
- JetHawks Cruise Past Giants to Take Series - San Jose Giants
- Wynkoop Holds up Early Spark in 2-0 Win - Modesto Nuts
- Bakersfield Blaze Game Recap 08-13-16: Greatest Comeback Of The Year, - Bakersfield Blaze
- Ports Ride Early Runs To 8-4 Victory - Stockton Ports
- Anderson Chokes off Nuts in 6-2 Win - Inland Empire 66ers
- Norris's Strong Start Helps Snap Skid - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Six Unanswered Runs Sink Nuts in 6-2 Loss - Modesto Nuts
- JetHawks Use Big Innings to Rout Giants, 16-2 - San Jose Giants
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