DeCarlo Clubs Giants in Win
June 5, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
For the second time in two days, Joe DeCarlo got the better of San Jose's pitching. DeCarlo's strength was on display Sunday afternoon at Municipal Stadium as his two-run home run and solo shot helped the Bakersfield Blaze (28-28) beat the Giants (33-23), 7-5.
The multi-homer performance for DeCarlo was his first of the season, but the fourth by a Blaze hitter this season. Tyler Marlette had recorded the previous three, but DeCarlo was the batter doing the damage on this day.
Bakersfield wasted little time attacking the ace of San Jose, Sam Coonrod. The right-hander came into the game boasting a 5-2 record and a 1.45 ERA.
The Cal League's top ranked pitcher didn't have his best stuff as he gave up six earned runs on four hits.
Drew Jackson started the game with a leadoff double into the right-center field gap before Arby Fields flied out to deep left. Jackson alertly took third base on the play and that paved the way for Chantz Mack. Mack's first look at Coonrod almost led to a crooked number. The power-hitting slugger drove a fastball to deep right field, but Steven Duggar caught the ball at the wall. Mack's sac fly scored Jackson and Bakersfield led 1-0.
In the second after Baum walked and Daniel Torres was retired, DeCarlo went to work. The third baseman hit a two-run homer during the third inning on Saturday and on Sunday he did an inning earlier to make it 3-0. It was DeCarlo's second home run of the series, but he wasn't done and his company took notice.
Inches away from a homer in the first, Mack came up and made no mistake about a pitched grooved to him in the third. Mack smashed his 7th homer of the season to right field with Arby Fields on base to give the Blaze a 5-0 advantage.
The runs continued to flow for Bakersfield and they turned out to be necessary.
Cristian Paulino's first long ball of the year got San Jose on the scoreboard to make it 5-1.
Kyle Petty immediately responded in the sixth by going yard for 7th time this year to regain the five-run cushion.
Starting pitcher Anthony Misiewicz (W, 3-4) ran into some trouble during the home half of that frame by going up three runs before Jake Zokan relieved him.
With the Blaze up 6-4 in the seventh, DeCarlo came up again and greeted relief pitcher Jeff Soptic with a solo rocket to left-center field to give Bakersfield a 7-4 lead that they would not relinquish. Vinny Nittoli recorded his third save on four tries as they team has won 16 of its last 23 contests.
Bakersfield has now won a season-high six straight and they have rattled off 10 wins in their last 12-road games. With its impressive stretch, the Blaze are also back at .500 for the first time since the start of the year. The club looks to win the series on Monday when they meet the Giants in Game 3 of the four-game series. First pitch is at 6:30pm and David Gascon will have all the action on TuneIn Radio and BakersfieldBlaze.com.
California League Stories from June 5, 2016
- Quakes Hold off Sixers for Sunday Win - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Rawhide Rally in Ninth, Sink Ports 6-5 - Stockton Ports
- Nuts out Slugged in 15-8 Loss - Modesto Nuts
- San Jose Giants Celebrate 7 Million Fans Through Municipal Stadium Gates - San Jose Giants
- JetHawks Go Deep Five Times in Roasting of Nuts - Lancaster JetHawks
- DeCarlo Clubs Giants in Win - Bakersfield Blaze
- Blaze Power Surge Sinks Giants - San Jose Giants
- Yo Joe - Bakersfield Blaze
- 66ers Open Series with 5-4 Win over Quakes - Inland Empire 66ers
- Ports Drop Fifth Straight, Lose 8-3 - Stockton Ports
- Quakes Fall to Sixers in Series-Opener - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
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