In 2-0 Defeat, Blaze Run into Buzzsaw
Published on August 24, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
In a classic battle of arms, the Modesto Nuts prevailed over the Bakersfield Blaze on Friday night at John Thurman Field, with California League wins leader Christian Bergman leading the charge in a 2-0 Blaze loss.
The Nuts needed very little on the offensive side, and what they needed, they would get in the 2nd inning. Former first round pick Kyle Parker took a Tim Crabbe (L, 4-1) fastball over the wall in deep right for a solo homer leading off the bottom of the 2nd inning, and the Nuts went up, 1-0.
From there, the story of the night was Christian Bergman (W, 15-5). Coming off of two rough outings against the Visalia Rawhide that saw Bergman allow 17 runs over just 7.2 innings, Bergman was dominant. Working with finesse both edges of the plate, mixing sinkers with change-ups and sliders, the Blaze never settled into any sort of rhythm, and the game was done before anyone knew it.
Bakersfield had its only chance to score in the 2nd inning. Steve Selsky and Juan Duran opened the inning with back-to-back singles, putting runners at first and second with nobody out, but from that point, Bergman retired 21 consecutive batters, finishing the game with 8.0 shutout innings under his belt, allowing just those two singles while striking out eight without a walk.
The Blaze pitching staff was far from bad. Crabbe, making his eighth start, allowed just one earned run through five innings -- a second unearned tally came across in the 4th -- but it was not enough on this night, as Crabbe took the tough-luck loss. Following Tim, Daniel Wolford tossed two scoreless innings, and Carlos Contreras tacked on a spotless 8th of his own.
Unfortunately, even once Bergman departed, the Blaze remained pinned the to mat. Nuts closer Isaiah Froneberger (S, 7) was called upon to pitch the 9th, and the stout lefty wrapped the game up with a 1-2-3 inning, continuing the string of batters set down by Bergman, and, in all, setting down the final 24 Blaze hitters on the night.
The loss snaps a Blaze three game win streak, and moves the team back to just two games over the 500-mark for the season, with three more to go here in Modesto over the weekend and through Monday.
Saturday night's game is set to start at 7:05pm, with Jamie Walczak going for the Blaze and Juan Gonzalez for the Nuts. Make sure to tune in to the broadcast at 6:55pm for the pregame show, as Dan Besbris has the call on both internet and radio, through BakersfieldBlaze.com and locally at SmartTalk AM-1230...it's the Saturday night Game of the Week!
California League Stories from August 24, 2012
- In 2-0 Defeat, Blaze Run into Buzzsaw - Bakersfield Blaze
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- Hogue's Steal Highlights 10-0 Win - Lancaster JetHawks
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