Blaze Drop Sleepy Finale, 7-3
August 31, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
A sluggish Bakersfield Blaze club committed three errors, two misplays and a baserunning gaffe, and the High Desert Mavericks came from behind to win the rubber match, 7-3, on Sunday evening in Adelanto.
The game began promisingly enough with the Mavs scratching for an unearned run in the bottom of the 1st off Blaze starter Ryan Yarbrough before Bakersfield countered with a pair of tallies in the 2nd. Kyle Petty rode a line drive out to right for a solo homer off Trey Lambert, and later in the inning Jay Baum tripled and came home on a Justin Seager sacrifice fly for a 2-1 lead.
Bako added one more in the 3rd, but the fan stopped there. O'Neill's two-out double was followed by Austin Wilson's RBI single and a Petty groundball single put runners on the corners. The Blaze attempted a double-steal and Wilson was thrown out at home. From that point on, the Blaze looked lost.
In the home half of the inning, Ronald Guzman homered to cut the Blaze lead to 3-2, and after a rare Yarbrough walk, a key error on a double play grounder not only led to the tying run but also to Yarbrough eclipsing the 30-pitch mark for the inning. Ryan was lifted from the game, forcing the bullpen into the contest early, and the Mavericks capitalized.
Grady Wood (L, 0-1) allowed three runs in the 6th, his second inning of work, and the Blaze never got close again. The Mavs got two doubles, a triple and a single for their runs in the 6th, and added one more off Ramon Morla in the 7th on a double and single, building a four run advantage.
The Blaze did not have a hit after the 4th inning. Jose Monegro (W, 2-0) worked 2.2 innings of scoreless relief for High Desert, and after JoeAnthony Rivera walked the only batter he faced, John Fasola (S, 5) picked up his second save of the series by getting the final four outs.
The fatigued Blaze finally get an off day on Monday after playing 38 games in 39 days, but on Tuesday the club opens up the season-ending homestand at Sam Lynn Ballpark with the first of seven in a row at home. With three against Lancaster and four against San Jose, fans have just one week of chances left to see the club before the offseason hits.
On Tuesday night, the Blaze celebrate the final ScholarShare Family $20 Night with a special Social Media Promotion - the 1st Annual Twitter-Instagram Night, where all followers of the Blaze can get into the park for free. Follow the club on Twitter or Instagram to find the free ticket.
Gates open at 6:15pm and first pitch is set for 7:15pm. Brett Ash takes the ball in the opener.
Can't make it out? It's free, there's no excuse. But Dan Besbris will still have the call on BakersfieldBlaze.com and via the TuneIn Radio app.
California League Stories from August 31, 2015
- Joe Bauman Home Run Award Contenders Battle Into Final Week Of Season - Bakersfield Blaze
- Rawhide Homestand Preview: September 1-7 - Visalia Rawhide
- Ports Down 66ers 10-1, Take Series - Inland Empire 66ers
- Ports Pound 66ers 10-1 in Series Finale - Stockton Ports
- Blaze Drop Sleepy Finale, 7-3 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Nuts Fall 2-1 in Wild Finish - Modesto Nuts
- Giants Bid for Perfect Road Trip Falls Short - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Top San Jose to Finish Home Stand - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Davis Powers Lancaster to Series Sweep - Lancaster JetHawks
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