Blaze Smash 3 Homers, Beat Visalia
June 24, 2014 - California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
The bats came alive on Bakersfield Hyundai Dollar Monday at Sam Lynn Ballpark, and, powered by three homers, the Bakersfield Blaze took care of the Visalia Rawhide, winning their first of the second half by the final margin of 8-5.
Visalia plated the first run of the contest on a Socrates Brito solo homer in the 1st off Daniel Wright (W, 4-0), and the score remained 1-0 until the 3rd, when both sides went to work.
Steve McQuail ripped a two-run homer for the visitors in the top of the frame just inside the foul pole to put the Rawhide up 3-0, but Zach Vincej countered with his first dinger of the year, a three-run blast to knot the game at three runs apiece.
In the 4th, the Blaze took the lead ... briefly. Yovan Gonzalez hit his first homer of the year (marking an interesting night where two full-year players hit their first homers) to put Bakersfield on top, 4-3.
But the Rawhide countered. Two hits, a hit batsman and a sacrifice fly plated two, pushing Visalia on top, 5-4.
That would be the final lead for the visiting club. In the bottom of the 5th, the Blaze ended the night for Visalia starter Jesse Darrah (L, 3-4), mashing three straight singles to begin the inning, scoring two for a 6-5 lead. Keith Hessler entered, and Juan Perez greeted the lefty with a two-run blast to center, his eighth of the season, and the Blaze led 8-5.
And that is how the contest would end. Mike Dennhardt worked three innings of scoreless relief, and Ben Klimesh (S, 2) picked up the save with an eventful, but run-less 9th.
The win is the first of the second half for the Blaze, and brings some good feelings to the club on a well-attended Monday evening game. The team improves to 46-29 overall, as well.
The 7-game homestand, and the series with Visalia continues on ScholarShare Family Tuesday in a battle of finesse righthanders, as Brandon Sinnery goes for the Rawhide, and Drew Cisco, coming off a strong outing in Stockton, toes the rubber for the home club.
Former Orioles and Angels second baseman Bobby Grich will be on hand as part of the Mobil Super Tour, and fans are encouraged to meet Grich before the game and get autographs at the park!
Can't make it out? Listen to every pitch of Blaze baseball live as Dan Besbris brings the call online at BakersfieldBlaze.com and TuneIn Radio. First pitch is set for 7:45pm with pregame show five minutes prior.
California League Stories from June 24, 2014
- Nuts Fall to Giants 15-3 - Modesto Nuts
- Giants Explode Offensively to Rout Modesto, 15-3 - San Jose Giants
- Seager and Urias to Play in Futures Game - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Ports Win Seventh Straight 8-7 in Extras - Stockton Ports
- Jacobs Makes History in Quakes' Sixth Straight Win - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Blaze Smash 3 Homers, Beat Visalia - Bakersfield Blaze
- Offensive Woes Continue in 2-0 Loss to Nuts - San Jose Giants
- Carpenter Starts Shutout; Nuts Win 2-0 - Modesto Nuts
- Ruiz, Meredith Homer in Loss to Ports - Lancaster JetHawks
- Peterson, Unsworth CAL League Players of the Week - High Desert Mavericks
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