Blaze Mount Ninth Inning Comeback, Stun Quakes, 9-8
Published on June 2, 2013 under California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
The Bakersfield Blaze looked down and out in the 4th, trailing 8-2, but slowly but surely, fought their way back, and ultimately toppled the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes with a four-run 9th inning, winning a wild thriller, 9-8 on Saturday night in Bakersfield.
The Blaze struck first, but Rancho responded. In the bottom of the 1st inning, after a scoreless top half, the Blaze got a single from Yorman Rodriguez and a two-run homer from Steve Selsky to take a 2-0 lead.
The lead did not last long. Jacob Johnson, allowed a solo homer to Jonathan Garcia in the 2nd inning, and an unearned run in the 3rd to tie it up, before a pivotal 4th.
In a rare bit of wildness, Johnson issued two walks in the 4th, and two singles, an error and a hit batter plated two runs to put Rancho ahead, 4-2. That brought up the man of the hour, Hanley Ramirez, who worked a 3-2 count before singling to centerfield, scoring two more, and putting the Quakes head, 6-2.
Johnson's night ended, but the Quakes offensive work did not. In the 5th, Rancho added two more off Carlos Gonzalez, and led 8-2, and hope, briefly, appeared lost.
But the Blaze were able to dig deep, scoring a run in the 5th on a Rodriguez double, and one unearned run in each the 7th and 8th innings, and suddenly, the Blaze trailed just 8-5, entering the 9th.
Eric Eadington (L, 0-2) entered for the Quakes, trying to lock down a three-run save, and ran into a buzz-saw. Rodriguez led off the inning with an opposite field solo shot, Marquez Smith followed with a single, and Steve Selsky smashed his second homer of the night, another two-run blast, and suddenly, the game was tied 8-8.
The Blaze felt no need for bonus baseball on this night, however, as Kyle Waldrop and Juan Duran each worked walks before Juan Silverio sacrificed the runners to second and third. That brought up Juan Perez, 0-for-3 on the night, but heating up. Eadington jumped ahead, one ball and two strikes, but Perez, waiting on a breaking ball, whipped a single past a diving Chris Jacobs at first base, plating Waldrop and sending the Blaze to the walkoff 9-8 win.
Brooks Pinckard (W, 1-3), the pitching hero of the night, worked three innings of scoreless ball for his first win of the year.
The victory moves the Blaze to 21-34, a team that continues to improve after falling to 18 games under 500 two weeks back.
The series with the Quakes wraps up at 11:30am on Sunday, with former second round pick Garrett Gould (1-2, 6.22) toeing the rubber for Rancho, and Jonathan Moscot (1-7, 5.27) for the Blaze. It's Kids Club Sunday -- all members of the Blaze Kids Club get in free!
Can't make it out for the daylight baseball? Listen to Dan Besbris, Blaze broadcaster, call all the action on the internet at the Blaze Gameday Audio page through BakersfieldBlaze.com. The pregame show begins at 11:25am, with the game to follow.
California League Stories from June 2, 2013
- 'Hawks Rout 'Hide to Take Series - Lancaster JetHawks
- Mavericks Rally Late to Drop Modesto - Modesto Nuts
- Muncy's Slam Sends Ports to 6-3 Victory - Stockton Ports
- Late Grand Slam Dooms Giants in 6-3 Loss - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Play Long-Ball, Back Gould for Win - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Pair of Three-Run Homers Down Blaze, 7-3 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Gagnon Deals as Nuts Win Again, 3-1 - Modesto Nuts
- Rough Ninth for Quakes - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Blaze Mount Ninth Inning Comeback, Stun Quakes, 9-8 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Homers Help Ports to 9-4 Win over Giants - Stockton Ports
- Tucker Extends Streak, RBI Lead in Win - Lancaster JetHawks
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