
Blaze Finish Season with Sweep of San Jose
September 7, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
The 2015 Bakersfield Blaze season came to an end with a bang as the Blaze finished the final week of games 6-1, and completed a sweep of playoff-bound San Jose with a 4-2 finish on Monday afternoon at Sam Lynn Ballpark.
A bittersweet day came to an end with the Blaze in front, 4-2, winning all four games from the Giants and finishing off the season with 24-12 record the final 36 games, the best mark in the California League since August 1.
On a Labor Day midday affair, Scott DeCecco (W, 3-3) continued what had been a furious run for Blaze starters by dealing over 7.0 innings. DeCecco allowed his only run in the 1st inning, then powered through six more, fanning seven Giants hitters while giving up just three more hits over that span.
The Blaze, meanwhile, were able to slowly pull away from the Giants, who ran their entire bullpen out in the season's final game. While tuning up for the playoffs, San Jose used Jarret Leverett (L, 0-1) as the starter, and the Blaze took the lead in the 2nd and never looked back.
Rayder Ascanio singled and Jay Baum walked before Justin Seager doubled in Ascanio. Carlton Tanabe hit a grounder to the hole at short - a fine play got the out at first, but Baum scored, and the Blaze led 2-1.
Two innings later, the Blaze began moving farther in front. Ascanio saved the best for last, hammering his first homer as a Blaze on the last day of the year to give Bako a 3-1 lead, with that shot coming off Tyler Rogers, and in the 6th, Chantz Mack hit the first pitch of the inning from Jose Reyes out for a 4-1 lead.
The Giants got one back in the 8th off Nick Valenza, but Will Mathis (S, 1) struck out the side to put a cap on the furious late-season run and finish off the year.
The Blaze will not appear in the playoffs in 2015, but for those that wish to monitor the progress, the playoffs begin on Wednesday, September 9.
And for those that don't ... Blaze 2016 begins on April 7 right back at Sam Lynn. See everyone then!
California League Stories from September 7, 2015
- Ports Claim Number Two Playoff Seed - Stockton Ports
- Giants Suffer 4-2 Loss in Regular Season Finale - San Jose Giants
- San Jose Giants Playoffs Begin at Municipal Stadium Wednesday, September 9 - San Jose Giants
- Blaze Finish Season with Sweep of San Jose - Bakersfield Blaze
- Late Rally Falls Short in 8-6 Loss to Blaze - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Rally for Win over Inland Empire - Inland Empire 66ers
- Quakes Roll Early, Down 66ers - Inland Empire 66ers
- Pair of Homers Power Blaze to Fourth Straight Win, 8-6 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Quakes Win Again, Finish Regular Season Monday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Ports Shutout Nuts 3-0 - Modesto Nuts
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