Blaze Strand 13 in Tough One-Run Loss
April 9, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
If fans thought Thursday was damp, Friday was a lake, but the Bakersfield Blaze and Visalia Rawhide battled through the rain, and though the Blaze had myriad opportunities to push ahead, stranded baserunners cost the club and Visalia took the second game of the series, 3-2.
The rain was steady for the first six innings, and slippery conditions made pitching, at times, a little difficult. Visalia starter Miller Diaz had issues with his control, issuing six walks in just 3.2 innings, but managed to limit the damage to just two runs, both scoring in the 4th.
The Blaze got their runs on a sustained rally, though they may have wanted more. Brock Hebert began the frame with a double, and Gianfranco Wawoe followed with a walk. After a flyball moved Hebert to third, Arby Fields hit a slow roller in front of the plate, and a slow play to first allowed Hebert to score on the infield single. Two batters later, Drew Jackson collected his first RBI in the California League with a clean single to right, scoring Wawoe. At that point, the Blaze trailed 3-2, and the score would not change.
Both bullpens were solid in this contest, with Visalia's Nick Baker (W, 1-0), Myles Smith and Zac Curtis combining on 5.1 innings of scoreless ball, and Bakersfield's Isaac Sanchez and Kyle Hunter put together 4.0 scoreless innings of their own.
The loss falls on the shoulders of Blaze starter Anthony Misiewicz (L, 0-1), who gave up an unearned run in the 1st and single tallies in the 2nd and 4th. Despite outpitching his opponent, the unearned run ended up as the difference in the game, and Bakersfield was left one big hit short of turning the game on its head.
The series with Visalia continues on Fireworks Saturday, presented by KGET-TV, with first pitch set for 7:15pm, and fireworks immediately following the contest. Fans can tune in to the broadcast online at BakersfieldBlaze.com or via the TuneIn Radio app. Dan Besbris has the call with pregame interviews from David Gascon.
California League Stories from April 9, 2016
- Rawhide and Blaze Suspended Due to Rain - Visalia Rawhide
- Saturday's San Jose Giants Game Postponed Due to Rain - San Jose Giants
- Rain Postpones Nuts and Ports - Modesto Nuts
- Saturday's Giants-JetHawks Game Postponed - San Jose Giants
- Tonight's Game Postponed - Lancaster JetHawks
- Ports Reschedule Saturday, April 9th Game - Stockton Ports
- Ports Suffer First Loss, Fall 8-3 to Nuts - Stockton Ports
- Rawhide Bullpen Secures 3-2 Win with 5.2 Scoreless Frames - Visalia Rawhide
- Friday's Game Suspended Due To Rain - Lancaster JetHawks
- Quakes Earn First Win of 2016, Hold off Storm on Friday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Timely Knocks Put Nuts in Win Column - Modesto Nuts
- Blaze Strand 13 in Tough One-Run Loss - Bakersfield Blaze
- Friday's San Jose Giants Game Suspended Due to Rain - San Jose Giants
- Demeritte Homers Twice More in Mavs 9-5 Win - Inland Empire 66ers
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