Blaze Cap Wild Comeback in 12
April 9, 2014 - California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
In what can only be described as improbable, the Bakersfield Blaze twice rallied from four runs down, finally tying the Stockton Ports in the 9th, and, after two scoreless extra frames, walked off in the 12th on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly.
The game started off with runs, and the offenses took very few breaks.
In the 1st inning, both starting pitchers allowed a single and two-run homer to the first two batters they faced, with Stockton's Daniel Robertson smacking a shot to left, and Bakersfield's Junior Arias going to center.
In the 2nd, the Ports added another two-run shot, as number-2 prospect Billy McKinney went opposite field with a drive to put the Ports up, 4-2.
And, without any breathers, the Ports came up with two doubles and a dropped pop-fly in the 3rd to take their first four run lead at 6-2 off James Allen.
The Blaze slowly crept back into it, as Jesse Winker doubled in the 3rd, and Kyle Waldrop brought him home, and after Ports starter Josh Bowman exited, Marquez Smith smashed his third homer of the year, another two-run blast, off Kris Hall in the 6th, cutting the deficit to just 6-5.
Jimmy Moran had gone 2.1 scoreless innings of relief for the Blaze to keep it close, but Ben Klimesh ran into trouble in the 8th. With two outs and one on, the Ports two and three-hole hitters came up with a double and homer, with Matt Olson's drive off the sunscreen putting Stockton up by a seemingly comfortable margin, 9-5.
Not comfortable enough. In the bottom of the 9th, Michael Ynoa of the Ports imploded. A leadoff base hit was followed by two walks, bringing up the heart of the Blaze order. A Junior Arias base hit made it 9-6, and a Jesse Winker flyball made it 9-7, bringing up Seth Mejias-Brean, who, after a wild pitch scored the 8th run, blasted a single past the drawn-in infield to tie the game at 9.
Kyle McMyne and Brooks Pinckard, roommates and great friends, came up huge, as McMyne worked the 9th, 10th and 11th, and Pinckard (W, 1-0), the 12th, for the win.
In the bottom half, Jonathan Joseph (L, 0-1), who was spotless in the 10th and 11th, retired Waldrop on a grounder, then lost the plate, issuing three straight walks to load the bases. Juan Perez, who continues to impress early in 2014, took a fastball outside before driving a change-up to deep right, scoring the winning run on a sacrifice fly, and sending the diehard fans home happy.
The win moves the Blaze to 5-1, the first Cal League team to reach 5 wins.
The team will look to continue its winning ways with a high noon start on Wednesday in the matinee finale of the homestand. It is School Day, with over 1,000 kids expected on hand. It is also the first Nonprofit Wednesday, where all fans bringing an e-waste donation item to the park get in free thanks to Alianza Recycling!
Can't make it out? Listen online to Dan Besbris call the action on TuneIn Radio and BakersfieldBlaze.com. The pregame show begins at 11:55am!
California League Stories from April 9, 2014
- Nuts Swept by Rawhide After 5-2 Loss - Modesto Nuts
- San Jose Giants Opening Homestand Preview: April 10 - April - San Jose Giants
- What's New in 2014 for the Stockton Ports - Stockton Ports
- Late Homers Power Blaze to Win - Bakersfield Blaze
- Sixth Annual AV Autism Walk this Saturday - Lancaster JetHawks
- Left-Handed Pitcher Jeremy Affeldt to Join San Jose Giants - San Jose Giants
- Vladimir Guerrero to Throw out First Pitch for High Desert Mavericks Tonight - High Desert Mavericks
- Blaze Rally in Ninth, Sink Ports 10-9 in Extras - Stockton Ports
- Alsup Strikes out Career-High 10 in 8-1 Loss - Modesto Nuts
- Blaze Cap Wild Comeback in 12 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Giants Drop Second Straight to JetHawks, 4-2 - San Jose Giants
- JetHawks Battle to Win Third Straight - Lancaster JetHawks
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