Blaze Hit Three Homers in 7-5 Defeat
Published on July 16, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
The power sticks are back for the Bakersfield Blaze, but tonight, three solo blasts proved to be less useful than the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes pair of 2-run shots, and the Blaze fell 7-5 in the middle game of a 3-game series.
The game started out with an offensive flourish, before settling down. Blaze starter Daniel Renken (L, 4-6) ran into trouble in the first inning, allowing a Pedro Baez two-run shot to left, but the Blaze came right back in the home half. Rancho starter Garrett Gould retired the leadoff man before surrendering back-to-back jacks to Devin Lohman, his 9th, and Travis Mattair, his 14th, to knot the game at 2 runs apiece.
The second inning proved to be an interesting one, as well. In the top half, the Quakes began the inning with a pair of singles to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Renken then induced a force play at second to put runners at the corners with 1 out. Leon Landry stepped to the plate and hit a slow roller to third that Mattair bare-handed, firing home to get the out at the plate, but while that was occurring, runners ended up at 1st and 3rd again, this time with 2 outs. Renken then stepped to 3rd and looked to first, and Landry was caught running. Renken fired to Dominic D'Anna, his first baseman, and Alexis Aguilar, at 3rd base, broke for him. The Blaze chose to chase Landry, and before they could apply the tag, Aguilar touched the plate to put the Quakes up 3-2.
After the pitchers traded strong innings, the Blaze got 3 in the fifth to take the lead, 5-3. Juan Duran hit his 9th homer, another solo blast, and a series of doubles and singles plated 2 more. The lead was short-lived, however. Scott McGough (W, 3-5) worked out of that jam, and the Quakes came back with a hit batter, single, error, and a 2-run homer for Landry, and grabbed a lead they would not relinquish.
Rancho added 1 more in the 9th on 3 walks and another hit batter, and Eric Eadington (S, 15) worked a scoreless bottom half for the save.
The loss snaps the Blaze win streak at 5, and drops the team back to 11-13 in the second half and 52-42 overall.
The series with Rancho comes to a conclusion tomorrow at 7:45pm on Dollar Monday! Tickets and hot dogs are just a buck, so come on out and bring all your friends for bargain basement prices!
Can't make it? Tune in live at BakersfieldBlaze.com, where Dan Besbris will call all the action 10 minutes prior to first pitch. The matchup tomorrow: Tim Crabbe will make his first start back with Bakersfield, and Angel Sanchez will toe the rubber for Rancho.
California League Stories from July 16, 2012
- San Jose Giants Host 5th Annual Italian Night July 21 - San Jose Giants
- Storm Set "Tebowing" Record During Night of Fellowship - Lake Elsinore Storm
- 66ers Fan Wins 65 Years Worth of Hot Dogs - Inland Empire 66ers
- San Jose Giants' Taylor Rogers Named California League Pitcher of the Week - San Jose Giants
- Quakes End Skid with Comeback Win - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Blaze Hit Three Homers in 7-5 Defeat - Bakersfield Blaze
- 66ers Win Walk Off, Haren Starts Monday - Inland Empire 66ers
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