Blaze Score 4 in Ninth, Come Back to Beat Stockton 6-3
Published on June 12, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
In a wild ballgame that saw Stockton Ports manager Webster Garrison ejected by basepath umpire Nate White, the Bakersfield Blaze scored 2 runs in the 8th to tie it, and 4 in the 9th to move ahead for good, and beat the Ports 6-3 on Monday night at Banner Island Ballpark in Stockton.
The first seven innings played out largely without event. Chad Rogers got the start for Bakersfield, and despite a 2-run homer for California League batting leader Miles Head, Rogers stranded a handful of runners in 5.0 innings. On the other side, Josh Bowman, still bidding for his first win of the season, pitched exceptionally well, scattering 7 singles over 6.0 innings while walking 1 and striking out 5.
The game, though, would turn on its head in the 8th inning. In the top half, Travis Mattair, mired in a 0-for-13 slump, blooped a double inside the rightfield line to begin the inning. After a strikeout of Juan Duran, Jaren Matthews was also fanned, but the pitch rolled away from catcher Max Stassi. Stassi, in a fine play, raced after the ball and spun around, throwing to first to get the out on Matthews. However, in the confusion, Connor Hoehn (L, 0-2) forgot to cover home, and Mattair came all the way around the score, making it a 2-1 game.
The next batter, Tucker Barnhart, got a 2-1 fastball and smashed it towards the wall in deepest rightcenter. Stockton centerfielder Chad Oberacker raced back, flew through the air, and appeared to make a remarkable catch high above the wall which would have robbed Barnhart of a game-tying homer. The crowd went wild, but basepath umpire Nate White signaled that Oberacker trapped the ball, and Barnhart ran all the way around the bases to score the tying run on an inside-the-park home run. Stockton manager Webster Garrison went ballistic, tossing his helmet and getting ejected on what, upon viewing replay, appeared to be a blown call, and Stockton could never regain their composure.
In the 9th, the Blaze went to work. Billy Hamilton led off with a walk and stole his 72nd. Theo Bowe bunted for a hit, and 3 batters later the Blaze got a 2-run single from Travis Mattair to go up 4-2, a lead they would not relinquish.
Pat Doyle (W, 6-2) got the win, pitching 3.0 innings of spotless relief.
The win moves the Blaze to a season-high 12 games over 500, and reduces the team's magic number for clinching the first half title to just 3.
The series continues tomorrow at 11:05am with a morning doubleheader! Josh Smith and Blake Treinen will go in the opener, and Justice French will tab the hill in game two for the Blaze. The broadcast will begin at 10:55am, as Dan Besbris gets set to call all the action, all day long.
California League Stories from June 12, 2012
- Angels Cather Scheduled with 66ers Wednesday - Inland Empire 66ers
- Bako Splits Doubleheader in Stockton, Drops Magic Number to 1 - Bakersfield Blaze
- San Jose Giants Homestand Preview: June 14-June 16 - San Jose Giants
- Big Innings Doom Giants in 12-8 Defeat - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Alone in First After Ninth-Inning Rally - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- 66ers Match Season High 12 Runs in Win - Inland Empire 66ers
- JetHawks Lost Heartbreaker in Rancho - Lancaster JetHawks
- Blaze Score 4 in Ninth, Come Back to Beat Stockton 6-3 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Storm Fall 7-4, Game Behind Quakes for First - Lake Elsinore Storm
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