Blaze Snap Skid at Seven with 6-5 Win
Published on July 10, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
In a much-needed victory, the Bakersfield Blaze played a solid, clean game from start to finish, and rode three strong innings from the bullpen to a tight 6-5 win over the Lake Elsinore Storm on Monday in Bakersfield.
Like any skid-stopping win, it was not easy. The game went back and forth, featuring at least four lead changes, and a handful of ties before the Blaze ultimately emerged on top.
In the second inning, the Storm scored first on a Tommy Medica double, his first of two in the game, an Eddy Rodriguez single, and a ground ball double play, but the Blaze came right back. In the bottom half, Dominic D'Anna started a 4-hit rally with a double, and Kurtis Muller polished it off by driving in two runs in a 3-run frame to put the Blaze ahead, 3-1.
The lead was short-lived. In the top of the 3rd, the Storm rallied for 3 of their own, Justin Miller's 2-run bomb providing the big punch, and Lake Elsinore jumped back up, 4-3.
Pat Doyle (W, 8-3) found a groove from that point, setting down the side in the 4th and 5th, and that proved to be important, as Steve Selsky clubbed a 2-run homer of his own in the 5th to put Bakersfield up 5-4.
An Eddy Rodriguez solo homer tied the game briefly in the 6th, but a 2-out rally by the Blaze -- Muller doubled and Theo Bowe singled him home -- gave the Blaze the 6-5 lead, and the bullpen handled the rest.
Blaine Howell worked a 1-2-3 7th inning, Daniel Wolford pitched around a walk in the 8th, and Brooks Pinckard (S, 2) collected the save by inducing three straight grounders to third, and the Blaze hung on to win a one-run contest.
The victory snapped a 7-game losing streak for the Blaze, and moves the team back to 7-12 in the second half and 48-41 overall.
With the homestand now concluded, the Blaze has an off-day Tuesday, and then opens a 3-game series in Stockton Wednesday at 7:05pm. Tanner Robles is set to start the opener for Bakersfield, and Stockton has yet to elect a starter.
Be sure to listen to all the action live on BakersfieldBlaze.com as Dan Besbris calls the play by play from start to finish -- pregame show is set for 6:55pm.
California League Stories from July 10, 2012
- 66ers 5,000th Facebook Fan Wins 5,000 Free Hot Dogs - Inland Empire 66ers
- Grand Night for Castro, Surging JetHawks - Lancaster JetHawks
- Giants Shutout for Fifth Consecutive Loss - San Jose Giants
- Blaze Snap Skid at Seven with 6-5 Win - Bakersfield Blaze
- 66ers Routed by Rawhide - Inland Empire 66ers
- Quakes Complete Road-Sweep of Giants - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
