Duran Homers Thrice in Defeat, 6-4, on Final Day
Published on September 3, 2013 under California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
On the very last day of the 2013 regular season, the Bakersfield Blaze nearly rode the colossal blasts of slugger Juan Duran to an improbable comeback, but ultimately fell to the Visalia Rawhide 6-4, ending the season in defeat.
The game started well for the Blaze for the second straight day, with Bakersfield putting four runners aboard in the 1st, and scoring twice. One of those runs was Duran's first longball of the day, a line drive rocket way over the fence in left.
The Rawhide did most of the damage from that point forward.
Blaze starter Fabian Williamson (L, 1-4) worked a scoreless 1st before running into control issues over the next two innings.
A three-walk bottom of the 2nd resulted in two Rawhide runs on a Raul Navarro double, and two more walks in the 3rd led to three Rawhide runs when a trifecta of singles and a throwing error turned the inning into a big rally. Visalia led 5-2.
Visalia starter Daniel Watts (W, 2-4) settled down after the rocky 1st, working out of a bases-loaded jam in the 3rd, and allowing just one additional run, a 5th-inning moonshot to Duran, his second dinger of the day.
The Rawhide plated one final run off Joey Housey in the 5th, going up 6-3 at the time. It was the first run allowed by Housey in his time with the Blaze, spanning 13 innings.
The only run left unacccounted for was Duran's final homer of the day, his third, and another whopper. Rawhide reliever Brad Allen left a fastball out over the plate, and Duran bashed it out to center.
It was quite a birthday for the young slugger out of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, and the three homer day pushed Duran's season total to an even 20.
Despite the effort, the Blaze did drop the finale, 6-4, as R.J. Hively (S, 14) worked the 9th for the save.
And with the final out of this contest on the road, the 2013 Blaze baseball season comes to an end. The Blaze want to take a moment to thank every member of the media who contributed content, read recaps, helped promote the ballclub, or attended a contest.
The club did not put together the type of win-loss record that can inspire, ending the year at 30 games under the 500 mark, but the city of Bakersfield continued to shine in their appreciation of the team, and the club remains gracious for the effort of everyone in the media all season long.
California League Stories from September 3, 2013
- San Jose Giants Kyle Crick Named California League Pitcher of the Week - San Jose Giants
- Thank You for a Great 2013 Season - Stockton Ports
- "Fans Choice" Fireworks to Follow Game 1 - Lancaster JetHawks
- 66ers Open Home Playoff Schedule Starts this Thursday - Inland Empire 66ers
- Ports Blanked 11-0 to Wrap up 2013 - Stockton Ports
- Duran Homers Thrice in Defeat, 6-4, on Final Day - Bakersfield Blaze
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