Four-Walk 7th Sets Back Blaze, 8-2
Published on May 27, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
For the third consecutive night, the Bakersfield Blaze took an early-game lead over the San Jose Giants, but for the third straight night, the Giants scored late, and tonight ran away from the Blaze, 8-2.
Daniel Renken got the start for Bakersfield, and pitched extremely well. The Giants made Dan work, but the big righthander pitched his way out of a 2nd-and-3rd, 1-out jam in the first inning, before giving up his only run of the night in the 2nd, and the Giants led 1-0.
The Blaze scored the next 2 runs in the game, first plating Billy Hamilton in the 3rd after the speedster stole his 47th bag of the season, and then earning a bases-loaded walk in the 5th from Giants starter Ryan Bradley.
The game, however, like the previous two, would be decided by the bullpens, and the Blaze pen had a rough evening. With 1 out in the 5th, and the Blaze on top 2-1, Pat Doyle (L, 3-2) came on and retired 2 straight to keep San Jose at bay. In the 7th, though, the pen lost its mojo. Doyle walked 4 in a row, but got an out on a pickoff by catcher Chris Berset. After the 4th walk, Ken Griffey made the move to Kyle McMyne, and in his first appearance as a Blaze, McMyne fired a wild pitch, then gave up a 2-run double and a 2-run homer back-to-back, and in a matter of 2 batters, the Giants turned a 2-1 deficit into a 6-2 lead.
From there, the Giants shut down Bakersfield. Chris Wilson (W, 3-1) pitched 2 scoreless innings for the win, and Phil McCormick went the final 4 outs for the save, his first of the year. The Giants added 2 runs in the 9th on one final 2-run homer to get us to the final score.
The loss drops the Blaze to just 4 games over 500 for the first time since the 11-game winning streak plowed through that mark, and the sweep at the hands of San Jose leaves the Blaze 5.5 out of first in the Cal League North. The homestand continues Sunday at 1:30pm, as the LA Angels affiliate, the Inland Empire 66ers, come to town for a 3-game set on Chevy Youth Baseball Kids Club Sunday at Sam Lynn Ballpark. Come down to the game and get your kid a membership at the box office, or listen live online as Dan Besbris calls the action through the Gameday Audio link at BakersfieldBlaze.com at 1:20pm.
California League Stories from May 27, 2012
- Medica Mania Returns, Storm Win 6-5 in 14 - Lake Elsinore Storm
- Lancaster Falters Late in 14-Inning Game - Lancaster JetHawks
- Pacione Triple Earns Inland Empire Extra-Innings Win - Inland Empire 66ers
- Modesto Takes Sunday's Series-Opener - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Blaze Fall in Extras, 6-5 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Holy Cucamonga: Storm Fall 7-1 - Lake Elsinore Storm
- San Jose Giants on Deck: First-Place Giants Host Visalia in Return Home - San Jose Giants
- Inland Empire Falls in Extras for Second Straight Night - Inland Empire 66ers
- Giants Sweep Blaze to Finish Road Trip - San Jose Giants
- Four-Walk 7th Sets Back Blaze, 8-2 - Bakersfield Blaze
- JetHawks Win Series with Second Walk-Off Hit - Lancaster JetHawks
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