Blaze Drop Close One in Extras, 5-4
Published on June 25, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
After a wild series of high-scoring games in Rancho Cucamonga, the Bakersfield Blaze found themselves embroiled in a tough contest in Visalia, and despite coming back twice, the Blaze fell 5-4 in extras to the Rawhide on Monday afternoon in Visalia.
The Rawhide drew first blood, and scored multiple times, early. In the 3rd inning, off Blaze All Star Chad Rogers, the Rawhide plated a run on a pair of singles to go up, 1-0.
Then, one inning later, Visalia added 2 on a 2-run homer by Bobby Borchering, the slugger's 14th of the season, and 5th this year against the Blaze.
Bakersfield would come right back, however. Spot-starter Bradin Hagens was dominant through 4.0 shutout innings for the Rawhide, but ran out of gas in the 5th. Travis Mattair led off the frame with a single, and Dominic D'Anna followed with a base knock of his own. After Steven Selsky walked, Hagens was lifted for reliever Jeremy Erben. Erben induced a pop-up from catcher Tucker Barnhart, but Kurtis Muller brought in one with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1 Rawhide. A wild pitch scored the second run, and Theo Bowe banged a single to right to plate a third, and just like that, we were tied at 3.
The Rawhide took the lead back in the next half inning on a pair of walks and a single, but the Blaze took advantage of a Rawhide error to get even at 4, and that's how the game would stay until the 10th inning.
For the Blaze, Kyle McMyne pitched a scoreless frame, and Brooks Pinckard followed with 2 scoreless of his own. On the Visalia side, closer Bo Schultz (W, 3-2) tossed 1.1 scoreless innings in the 9th and 10th. The game was decided in the bottom half.
Mike Griffin (L, 2-4) got the call for Bakersfield, and walked the leadoff man, Mike Freeman. Jon Griffin followed with a single to move the winning run to 2nd. Then Griffin got tough. Mike struck out Bobby Borchering and got Keon Broxton to pop out, but that's where Bakersfield's fortune ran out. Wagner Mateo, the new Rawhide first baseman, got a first-pitch fastball and sliced a shot inside 3rd to score the winning run, and the Rawhide prevailed, 5-4.
The loss drops the Blaze back to 44-31, and 3-2 in the second half. Visalia is now 3-2 in the second half, as well.
The series continues on Tuesday night at 7pm, with Josh Smith going for win number 7 for Bakersfield, and Ray Hernandez for the Rawhide.
Listen LIVE to the broadcast on BakersfieldBlaze.com at 6:50pm, with Dan Besbris calling all the action from the Visalia visiting press canopy.
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
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.
