Herb's 9 K's Not Enough in Loss
April 15, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
Self-inflicted wounds have been all too common for the Bakersfield Blaze (2-5) this young 2016 season.
On Thursday night it was no different.
In their home opener, the Visalia Rawhide (6-1) came from behind to beat the Blaze 7-6.
Early on it appeared the Blaze were on their way to some revenge after the Rawhide spoiled their opening night festivities just last week, but a 6-2 lead quickly vanished in the 7th inning. Kody Kerski got himself into some major trouble by walking the leadoff batter Tyler Baker before giving up back-to-back singles to Ericson Leonora and Victory Reyes.
Kerski's stint was short after he threw a wild pitch that allowed Baker to score, followed by a walk to Domingo Leyba that loaded the bases with nobody out.
Kerski might have left, but the momentum was all on the side of Visalia.
Rudy Flores was retired immediately by Aaron Brooks on a hard hit ground ball to first, but it still managed to bring home Leonora to cut the deficit to 6-4. With one out in the inning, Grant Heyman came up next and hit a ground ball that appeared to corkscrew on the infield dirt near the second base bag causing Drew Jackson to misplay it. The ball rolled into center field and the play was ruled an error on Jackson as it brought two more runs across home plate to make it 6-6.
The comeback was completed in walk-off fashion in the 9th inning. After Ramon Morla got Heyman to line out, Henry Castillo singled and then Cody Regis drilled a shot into the left-center field gap that easily scored Castillo.
Bakersfield was backed again by some fantastic starting pitching in their first road game of the season. Tyler Herb made his first start of the year and did not disappoint. The right-hander went 5.1 innings, struck out nine batters, scattered four hits, and surrender two unearned runs in a losing cause.
Three more errors were committed by the Blaze defense and it helped keep Visalia alive until their bats were able to wake up late in the game.
Kyle Petty continues to swing the bat well by going 2-5 with a solo home run in the 3rd inning. Jay Baum also went deep to left field in the same frame to make it 3-1 Blaze. Bakersfield was able to add another run in the 5th and two more in the 6th to build a 6-2 lead that they would later relinquish.
Austin Wilson went 2-3 on the night with two walks, while Drew Jackson (RBI) saw his six-game hitting streak come to a close.
Game 2 of this four-game series starts Friday night at 7:00 from Visalia. David Gascon will have the call on TuneIn Radio and BakersfieldBlaze.com.
California League Stories from April 15, 2016
- Only Two Weeks Left to Apply for the Quakes LoanMart Scholarship - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Cody Regis RBI Double in the Ninth Gives Rawhide Walk-Off Win - Visalia Rawhide
- Herb's 9 K's Not Enough in Loss - Bakersfield Blaze
- Sixers Drop Home Opener, Fall to 0-8 on the Year - Inland Empire 66ers
- Giants Pitching Shines in Road Trip Opener - San Jose Giants
- JetHawks Fall in Home Opener - Lancaster JetHawks
- Hoelscher's Three-Run Blast Takes Nuts Past Ports - Stockton Ports
- Hoelscher, Howard Lead Nuts to Home-Opening 5-2 Win - Modesto Nuts
- Quakes Take Fourth Straight - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
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