Blaze Pinch Nuts
Published on July 5, 2014 under California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
The Bakersfield Blaze have made a rich habit of winning dramatic ballgames, and the team took its fifth in a row, 7-5, with two rousing comebacks, beating the visiting Modesto Nuts 7-5 in front of a capacity crowd at Sam Lynn Ballpark on July 4th.
Ismael Guillon got the start, and after two very rocky outings, Guillon looked much more confident tonight.
Ismael worked a scoreless 1st, allowed two runs in the 2nd (only one of which was earned), then settled back in for two additional scoreless frames.
In the 5th, the offenses began to wake up. Modesto plated two more off Guillon on three hits and two walks, but a double play grounder stemmed the tide, and gave Bakersfield the opening they needed.
In the bottom half, Bakersfield finally got to Modesto starter Ryan Carpenter. John Tolisano and Sammy Diaz began the frame with doubles to plate a run. Zach Vincej brought home Diaz two batters later on an infield single, and Sean Buckley, as he has done seemingly every night since joining the club, bashed a mammoth homer to left to tie the game at 4.
After Guillon worked a scoreless 6th, and Jimmy Moran (W, 6-5) dealt with the 7th, Modesto retook the lead in the 8th. Chris O'Down hoisted a flyball to left that seemed to catch a jet-stream and blow out, putting the Nuts on top, 6-5.
But some funky managing cost Modesto the game in the home half of the inning. Alving Mejias was pitching well, and the Blaze had a runner at 2nd, David Vidal, with one out. In a strange move, Modesto opted to make a pitching change with a 1-and-2 count on Diaz, and John Keck (L, 0-2) immediately surrendered the game-tying hit. Three more singles from Vincej, Jeff Gelalich and Buckley gave the Blaze a 7-5 lead, and Jacob Johnson (S, 1) worked a 1-2-3 9th for his first save of the year.
The win is number five in a row for the Blaze, who move to 9-6 in the second half with 9 wins in the last 11 games, and a season-high 23 games over 500 overall at 54-21 with three more games coming up against the lowly Nuts.
Saturday marks another Game of the Week, with the first 1,000 fans in attendance receiving a Blaze logo baseball courtesy of Three-Way Automotive.
Can't make it out? Listen to every moment of exciting Blaze baseball locally on SmartTalk AM-1230 or globally on the internet at BakersfieldBlaze.com as Dan Besbris brings the call. First pitch is set for 7:45pm; gates open at 6:45pm; and the broadcast goes live five minutes prior to first pitch.
California League Stories from July 5, 2014
- JetHawks Crack Quakes for 50th Win - Lancaster JetHawks
- Quakes Run Winning Streak to Nine Straight - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Outrageous Offense Lifts Ports over Giants 17-6 - Stockton Ports
- Blaze Pinch Nuts - Bakersfield Blaze
- Nuts Let Leads Slip in 7-5 Loss - Modesto Nuts
- Lancaster Drops Close One Before Sell out Crowd - Lancaster JetHawks
- Giants Fall 17-6 in Front of Independence Day Sellout Crowd - San Jose Giants
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