Blaze Start Slow, Finish Fast in 8-5 Win over San Jose
Published on May 1, 2013 under California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
Jacob Johnson took a licking in the first inning of the Bakersfield Blaze road trip opener in San Jose, but bounced back to turn in six solid innings, and the Blaze offense roared back in a comeback 8-5 win over the Giants on Tuesday night in San Jose.
The game started about as poorly as the Blaze could envision, as the team left runners at the corners with one out in the top of the 1st, and the Giants responded with four-run, two-out rally in the bottom half to take an early 4-0 lead.
The Blaze, however, were not deterred. Bakersfield scored a run in the 3rd on a bases-loaded groundout to cut the deficit to 4-1, and added two more in the 4th on a bad-hop, two-run single for Chris Berset, and suddenly, the Blaze were right behind, 4-3.
San Jose got one back in the bottom of the 4th, the only other run they would score in the game, going up 5-3 before the Blaze turned up the heat.
From that point forward, Bakersfield outscored San Jose 5-0, showing a feistiness at the plate that had been missing at times over the season's first 24 games.
After Juan Silverio smacked a solo homer off Giants starter Clayton Blackburn in the 6th to cut the Giants lead to 5-4, the Blaze finally grabbed the lead for good in the 7th.
Giants reliever Jeff Soptic (L, 2-1) entered, and struggled. Juan Perez singled to start the inning, and after a grounder, Soptic walked both Kyle Waldrop and Marquez Smith to load the bases for Dominic D'Anna. And D'Anna, fresh off the disabled list, smashed a bases-clearing double to center, putting the Blaze up 7-5.
Bakersfield would add one more in the 9th off Kelvin Marte before Brian Pearl (S, 2) closed the game out in the bottom half.
Johnson (W, 2-1), who ended up going six innings, collected the win, and Carlos Gonzalez pitched two scoreless innings of relief, as well.
With the win, the Blaze have now taken two in a row, and knocked off division leading San Jose in the first meeting of the season.
The series continues Wednesday night at 7:05pm, with Edwin Escobar taking the hill for the Giants, and Tanner Robles for the Blaze. Make sure to listen to the broadcast LIVE on BakersfieldBlaze.com as Dan Besbris brings all the action to your home. Pregame show goes live at 6:55pm.
California League Stories from May 1, 2013
- Rawhide Walk-Off to Win 7-6 - Modesto Nuts
- Skid Continues as Nuts Drop Sixth Straight - Modesto Nuts
- Mudville 9 Walk-Off in 7-6 Win - Visalia Rawhide
- Nash Double Puts JetHawks Ahead for Good - Lancaster JetHawks
- Rehabbing Angel Alberto Callaspo Homers for 66ers - Inland Empire 66ers
- Ortiz' Walk-Off Gives Ports 6-5 Win - Stockton Ports
- Barbosa Leads Charge in 3-1 Win - Visalia Rawhide
- Giants Shutout Modesto - Modesto Nuts
- Nuts Fight Late, But Fall 5-3 - Modesto Nuts
- Quakes Stumble in Ten - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Win Streak Snapped with 8-5 Loss to Blaze - San Jose Giants
- 66ers Win 3rd Straight Behind Rehabbing Halos - Inland Empire 66ers
- Blaze Start Slow, Finish Fast in 8-5 Win over San Jose - Bakersfield Blaze
- JetHawks Drop Pitchers' Duel to 66ers - Lancaster JetHawks
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