Blaze Drop Wacky, Long One, 14-9
Published on June 13, 2013 under California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
In a contest that took nearly four hours, and featured six batters walked with the bases loaded, the Visalia Rawhide got out to a big lead, nearly lost it, and then prevailed late, 14-9, over the Bakersfield Blaze on Wednesday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark.
The game got off to a particularly odd start, with Blaze starter Jonathan Moscot hitting the first batter of the game, and home plate umpire Paul Clemons issuing warnings to both sides. From there, a bloop single was followed by a dropped pop-up that turned into a double play from shallow center, to second base, and on to third.
Later in the inning, Moscot lost the plate, issuing three consecutive bases-loaded walks, and the Rawhide led, 3-0.
In the bottom of the 1st, the Blaze got two back on a Yorman Rodriguez double, a Steve Selsky RBI single, two walks, and a Juan Duran sacrifice fly.
The Rawhide did not wait around to put a little more breathing room, though, collecting a bloop double and a single to center in the 2nd, and Visalia went back on top by two.
After the Blaze left the bases loaded in the 2nd inning, the starters settled down just a bit, working into the 5th inning without further activity.
After a Blaze move to the pen, though, the game took another turn toward the strange. Kyle Lotzkar entered, and was able to retire just one of the seven batters he faced. Jacob Johnson followed and allowed a pair of two-run hits before escaping the inning. In all, Visalia added seven, tying a season high allowed by Blaze pitching and the Rawhide went up comfortably, 11-2. Johnson ended up going an additional two scoreless innings, and Bakersfield started to fight.
The Blaze got a couple back in the home half, as part of a three-inning spurt, picking up two on a single, double, error, walk and a sacrifice fly, and the game moved to the 6th, Visalia on top, 11-4.
In the 6th inning, the Blaze began to make it interesting, with a catcher's interference call, and a walk coming before Steve Selsky launched a three-run homer, and the Rawhide lead was suddenly just four.
The Blaze got one more in the 7th on a Rodriguez triple and an error, but that was as close as the Blaze would come. Visalia countered with three runs in the 8th off Brooks Pinckard, going back up, 14-8, and putting a lid on it. Visalia allowed just one run over the final two innings, and won it 14-9.
The loss drops the Blaze to 3-4 on the first-half concluding homestand, and gives the Rawhide a two-games-to-one series win.
The first half of the season wraps up with the Blaze heading to Modesto for a four-game series with the Nuts. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday games are all 7:05pm start times, and Sunday will be an afternoon affair.
Make sure to tune in to listen to all four games, as Dan Besbris brings the call live through the Gameday Audio link at BakersfieldBlaze.com. The pregame show begins at 7:00pm, with Blaze action to follow.
Tomorrow's pitching matchup: Ben Alsup for the Nuts, and Shane Dyer for the Blaze.
California League Stories from June 13, 2013
- San Jose Giants on Deck: Giants Travel to Visalia with First Half Title at Stake - San Jose Giants
- Yarbrough's 11th Inning Homer Sinks Ports 7-4 - Stockton Ports
- San Jose Outlasts Modesto in 11 Innings - Modesto Nuts
- Giants Win on Bond's 11th Inning Walk-Off Home Run - San Jose Giants
- Blaze Drop Wacky, Long One, 14-9 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Yarbrough Homers for Walk off Winner - Inland Empire 66ers
- Cokinos Backs up West's Solid Start - Lancaster JetHawks
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