Bako Scores Nine in the Ninth in 14-9 Victory
Published on June 25, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
The Bakersfield Blaze sent 15 men to the plate in the 9th inning, scored a season-high 9 runs in the frame, and turned a 9-5 deficit into an eventual 14-9 win over the Quakes on Sunday afternoon in Rancho Cucamonga.
For eight innings, the game was largely controlled by the home team.
In the second inning, with Pat Doyle making his first start as a member of the rotation, the Quakes grabbed an early 2-0 lead on back-to-back 2-out RBI base hits from the bottom of the order.
The Blaze tied it up at 2 in the next half inning on a Niko Vasquez 2-run single, but Rancho immediately put 2 back on the board themselves on a Jonathan Garcia homer, and it was back to a 2-run lead for the Quakes.
For the second time in as many innings, Bakersfield tied it up. In the 3rd, the Blaze scored 2, but a close play at third resulted in an inning-ending double play, and the Blaze were left, for the moment, scathing.
It may have taken a toll. In the next half inning, the Quakes capitalized on 2 Blaze fielding mistakes (the team committed 5 total errors in the game) to score 4 runs (1 earned), and grab a commanding 8-4 lead. From that point forward, the Blaze pitchers pulled it together.
Justice French tossed 3.0 innings of relief, surrendering just a single unearned run, and keeping the Blaze within eyesight of the Quakes, and Chris Joyce (W, 2-3) did likewise with a 1-2-3 eighth inning. The Blaze scored 1 through those innings to make the score 9-5 in favor of Rancho. In the 9th, all their hard work paid off.
Scott McGough (L, 2-4) entered for the Quakes, and struggled mightily. Chris Berset led off the 9th with a single, and Kurtis Muller followed with his first homer as a member of the Blaze, and the Bakersfield deficit was cut in half to 9-7. Theo Bowe was caught looking for the first out, but the next four Blaze followed with singles to tie the ballgame, 9-9. A fielding error by the Quakes allowed the Blaze to take the 10-9 lead, and after Steve Selsky's third double of the game, McGough was pulled for Robert Purpura. Purpura, though, was no better, as all 5 Blaze that he faced reached safely. Finally, Freddie Cabrera was summoned to get the final out.
In all, the Blaze tallied 9 runs on 10 hits in the inning, and Joyce tossed a quick bottom half to secure the win.
The 14 runs marked the 3rd time in the series the Blaze reached double digits, and the 9-run inning set the season high by a 3-run margin.
Also of note, Billy Hamilton and Theo Bowe each swiped 3 bags to give the two speedsters 90 and 27, respectively.
With the win, the Blaze improved to 3-1 in the second half and 44-30 overall, and now take their show to Visalia for 3 games starting tomorrow at 1:00pm.
Andrew Chafin and Chad Rogers, a battle of All Stars, will take the hill, so tune in LIVE to hear Dan Besbris call all the action on BakersfieldBlaze.com -- the pregame show begins 10 minutes before the game!
California League Stories from June 25, 2012
- Blaze Drop Close One in Extras, 5-4 - Bakersfield Blaze
- California League Pitcher of the Week Returns to 66ers - Inland Empire 66ers
- San Jose Giants on Deck: Six-Game Homestand Begins Tonight against Stockton - San Jose Giants
- First Half Champ Crowned Tonight - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- JetHawks Drop 14-Inning Battle - Lancaster JetHawks
- The Storm Walking... Walking-Off That Is - Lake Elsinore Storm
- Bako Scores Nine in the Ninth in 14-9 Victory - Bakersfield Blaze
- 66ers Dominate High Desert with a Dozen Run Day - Inland Empire 66ers
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