Four-Run Comeback Halts Blaze Skid, 7-6
Published on August 28, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
The Bakersfield Blaze started slowly, but finished strong, bolstered by 5.1 innings of scoreless work by the pen, and erased a 4-run deficit in beating the Modesto Nuts, 7-6, on Monday night in Modesto.
The game opened with a quick trade. In the top of the 1st inning, Ryan Wright snapped his 0-for-11 skid in Modesto with a one-out single off Nuts starter Tyler Matzek, and, after swiping second, scored on a Steve Selsky base hit to right; in the bottom half, Modesto countered with a walk, a hit-and-run single, and a sacrifice fly off Blaze righthander Daniel Renken.
In the 2nd, the Blaze put another slash on the board. Devin Lohman was hit by a pitch to start the frame, he stole second, his 30th swipe of the year, moved to third on a bunt, and scored on a Dominic D'Anna groundout, as the Blaze retook the lead, 2-1.
Then, after two solid innings from Renken, Daniel ran into 4th inning trouble in Modesto. Renken, who had been cruising along, fell behind six of the eight batters he faced in the inning, allowing five hits, a walk, and a sacrifice fly before being lifted for Chris Joyce, trailing 5-2. A balk brought in Modesto's 6th run, and at the end of four, the Blaze suddenly found themselves down 6-2.
The Blaze mounted an effort to claw back into it, putting two runners aboard in the 5th, but leaving them, then putting three runners on in the 6th, scoring one, but leaving two more, and going into the bottom half trailing 6-3.
The bullpen gave Bakersfield a chance tonight. Chris Joyce ended up going 1.2 innings of scoreless relief between the 4th and 6th innings, and Andrew Brackman followed with 1.2 innings of his own to get the game to the 8th.
In the 8th, the Blaze made things interesting. A one-out rally led to two runs, with Juan Duran drawing a walk, Lohman doubling in Duran, and Niko Vasquez singling to left to move Lohman to third base before an error allowed Devin to score. Suddenly, the Blaze trailed just 6-5.
Carlos Contreras was called upon to keep the game close, but it was his rightfielder Steve Selsky who did the job. With one out and a runner at second base, Tim Smalling singled to right. Juan Crousset was waved around, and Selsky gunned him down at the plate, giving the Blaze one more chance to try to extend the game in the 9th.
And the chance they earned was all worthwhile. Isaiah Froneberger (L, 7-4) was called upon to try to earn his third save of the series, but the young lefty just did not have it, tonight. A leadoff walk to Kurtis Muller was followed one out later by a Mattair hit-and-run single to put runners at the corners. Selsky then flared a single to right to score Muller and tie the game at 6. Then, after Juan Duran flied out to rightfield, Devin Lohman drew a walk to load the bases for Niko Vasquez.
Vasquez and Froneberger faced off in one of the best at-bats of the season, with Niko finally drawing a walk on the 10th pitch of the sequence, putting the Blaze ahead for the first time since very early, 7-6.
Carlos Contreras (W, 1-0) worked through an eventful 9th, but finished off Modesto for the win, striking out Kyle Parker and Jared Clark to finish the game.
The win moves the Blaze back over the 500-mark at 67-66, and back to 26-37 in the second half with just seven games to go.
The Blaze now head home for a season-ending seven game homestand with the Visalia Rawhide and Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. The first game begins Tuesday night on Jack in the Box Taco Tuesday at Sam Lynn Ballpark, with first pitch scheduled for 7:15pm. Anthony Meo takes the ball for the Rawhide, and Stalin Gerson for the Blaze.
Can't make it? Listen LIVE to the broadcast at BakersfieldBlaze.com, as Dan Besbris calls the action ten minutes prior to first pitch.
California League Stories from August 28, 2012
- Ware Activated from DL for Stretch Run - Inland Empire 66ers
- Cron Crowned Cal League Rookie of the Year - Inland Empire 66ers
- San Jose Giants on Deck: Giants Continue Road Trip in Lake Elsinore - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Edge Giants in Series Finale, 4-3 - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Move into Tie for Wild Card - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Four-Run Comeback Halts Blaze Skid, 7-6 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Cron Ties Record, 66ers Win 2-1 - Inland Empire 66ers
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