Blaze Squeeze Nuts in 11-Inning Walkoff
April 12, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
On a Monday night that featured the largest regular season Monday crowd in a decade, the Bakerfield Blaze erased a five run deficit in regulation and won it in the 11th on a squeeze play, walking off against the Modesto Nuts in the opener of a three-game series at Sam Lynn Ballpark.
The game featured 12 pitchers, and saw a combined 17 walks and 28 strikeouts over more than four hours of gameplay.
The game looked bleak for Blaze fans, too, when the late innings turned the ride. Starter Eddie Campbell left in the 4th inning with the Blaze trailing by two, and after Kyle Hunter worked 2.1 innings of scoreless relief, Modesto added three runs off Kody Kerski in the 7th and one more off Isaac Sanchez in the 8th. The Blaze trailed 7-2.
In the bottom of the 8th, though, Modesto's bullpen imploded. Josh Michalec walked three straight Blaze to begin the frame, and Craig Schlitter came on, only to issue another walk and give up a two-run double to Drew Jackson, cutting Bakersfield's hole to just two runs. An error plated a fourth run, and suddenly the Blaze were within a run.
Just as quickly as the Blaze seemed to be buried in the 9th, the momentum shifted right back. Modesto began the 9th by loading the bases with nobody out against Sanchez, but Ryan Horstman was summoned from the pen and the lefty promptly struck out the side without allowing a run to score.
In the bottom of the inning, Arby Fields singled in Gianfranco Wawoe to tie it and send the game to extras.
Horstman struck out another three batters in the 10th (to give him six in a row), and Kyle Schepel (W, 1-0) worked a spotless 11th, giving Bakersfield one more chance to win it.
Win it, they did. Colin Welmon (L, 0-1) had already worked the 10th, but Kyle Petty greeted him rudely with a leadoff double in the 11th, and a grounder moved Kyle to third with one out. After an intentional walk put runners at the corners, Wawoe surprised Modesto with a first-pitch squeeze bunt, scoring Petty for the walkoff win, 8-7.
Blaze LateNight ended near 11:35pm pacific time, but the Blaze were more than happy to plate extras to get the win. The series with Modesto continues on Tuesday with Social Media Night. Fans of the Blaze on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram can get in for FREE with social media-posted ticket.
Can't make it out? Tune in live as Dan Besbris brings the call at BakersfieldBlaze.com and TuneIn Radio. Pregame show is set for 7:00pm.
California League Stories from April 12, 2016
- Visalia Comes Home to Celebrate 70 Years of Baseball - Visalia Rawhide
- Quakes Outduel Winless 66ers 2-1 - Inland Empire 66ers
- Rawhide Announce Local "Play Ball" Initiative - Visalia Rawhide
- JetHawks Soar Late as Ports Fall 10-5 - Stockton Ports
- Big Seventh Gives JetHawks First Win - Lancaster JetHawks
- Nuts Surrender Late Lead in 8-7 Loss - Modesto Nuts
- Blaze Squeeze Nuts in 11-Inning Walkoff - Bakersfield Blaze
- Rawhide Plate Five Runs in Final Three Innings and Hang on for 6-5 Win - Visalia Rawhide
- CCAA Baseball Championship Tickets Now Available - Stockton Ports
- Giants Suffer 6-5 Loss to Rawhide - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Edge Sixers on Monday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
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