Blaze Battle Back, Sink Ports 7-6 in 11
Published on June 30, 2014 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - In their final game of the season at Sam Lynn Ballpark where they've struggled to win all season, the Stockton Ports saw two extra inning leads fall by the wayside on Sunday afternoon. The Bakersfield Blaze came from behind to tie the Ports in the sixth, eighth and 10th innings and ultimately got a walk-off home run from John Tolisano in the 11th to beat Stockton by a final of 7-6.
The Blaze scored their first run in the third inning off Ports starter Tim Atherton. Brent Peterson singled to open the frame, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out RBI single by Zach Vincej to put Bakersfield in front 1-0.
Stockton, after being kept quiet by Blaze starter Drew Cisco through five innings, exploded for three home runs in the sixth. With one out, Daniel Robertson tied the game with a home run into the catwalk in right field. With two outs, Renato Nunez and Ryon Healy hit back-to-back homers to give the Ports a 3-1 advantage.
Cisco received a no-decision, going six innings and allowing three runs on six hits while striking out one.
The Blaze used the long ball to tie the score in the sixth. With one on and one out, Sean Buckley hit a two-run homer to left off Atherton to knot the score at 3-3. Atherton received a no-decision, going 5.1 innings and allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out four.
The Ports employed the big fly to take another lead in the eight as Nunez hit his second home run of the contest, this time off Blaze reliever Jacob Johnson to give the Ports a 4-3 edge.
Nolan Sanburn, who recorded the final two outs of the sixth and pitched a scoreless seventh, came on to work the eighth and gave up a leadoff double to Vincej, who scored two batters later on an RBI single by Buckley to tie the game 4-4. It was the only run allowed by Sanburn in 2.2 innings of relief.
Kris Hall escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the ninth inning to send the game to extra innings. In the 10th, Boog Powell doubled to right-center with one out. With two outs, Matt Olson drew a walk and Nunez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Healy came up next and looped a single to right field to score Powell and give Stockton a 5-4 advantage. It was the only run allowed by Blaze reliever Ben Klimesh in two innings of work.
The Blaze once again evened the score in the bottom half of the inning facing Ports reliever Austin House (0-4). Jeff Gelalich led off with a single to right, stole second and scored on a one-out RBI single by Sebastian Elizalde to tie the game at 5-5 as House suffered his second consecutive blown save.
Stockton again took the lead in the 11th inning as Bobby Crocker led off with a single off Ports reliever Jimmy Moran (5-4). With two outs and Crocker at second, Powell delivered his second double in as many at-bats as he doubled to right to plate Crocker and make it a 6-5 ballgame.
House, with a chance to pick up the win after blowing the save, came out to pitch the 11th and gave up a leadoff infield single to Juan Perez, followed by the game-winning home run to Tolisano that sailed over the right field fence to give the Blaze a 7-6 win, their second walk-off victory in the last three games.
House suffered his second loss in as many outings while Moran picked up the victory for the Blaze.
After dropping three of four at Bakersfield but winning four of seven on their road trip, the Ports begin a short three-game homestand on Tuesday versus the Lancaster JetHawks following a day off on Monday. Left-hander Chris Lamb (3-0, 4.08 ERA) makes the start on Tuesday for Stockton, opposed by Lancaster left-hander Kent Emmanuel (3-2, 6.00 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.
California League Stories from June 30, 2014
- Ports' Renato Nunez Named California League Player of the Week - Stockton Ports
- Quakes Roll to Another Sweep over Sixers - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Blaze Battle Back, Sink Ports 7-6 in 11 - Stockton Ports
- Late Lead Dissipates in Homestand Finale - Lancaster JetHawks
- DeCecco Beats Nuts' Bats in 6-1 Loss - Modesto Nuts
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