Late Comeback Falls Short in 6-4 Loss
Published on June 15, 2013 under California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
You can't fault the effort; on a night when the Bakersfield Blaze were no-hit for nearly seven innings, the Blaze fought tooth and nail in the late frames, and cut a six run deficit to two, but ultimately fell to the Modesto Nuts by the final count of 6-4.
The story for the first seven innings was Modesto starter, and California League All-Star, Dan Winkler (W, 9-2). Winkler, already number three in all of Minor League Baseball in opponents batting average, lowered that mark tonight by tossing 6.1 no-hit innings to begin the contest. Winkler allowed a walk and hit a batter, but the Blaze first knock did not arrive until the 7th, when, with one out, Juan Silva smashed a line drive double into the right field corner.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Mike Dennhardt (L, 3-6) was outstanding for five of his seven innings, but ran into trouble in the 2nd and 3rd. In the 2nd, Ryan Casteel singled, and Jared Simon followed with a run-scoring double to put the Nuts up, 1-0. Later in the inning, after a strikeout-wild pitch gave Modesto an extra out, a ground ball single scored Simon, and Modesto went up, 2-0.
The 3rd, however, seemed to be the deciding inning. Jose Rivera reached on an error to begin the inning, and Brian Humphries and Taylor Featherston each followed with pop-fly singles into shallow leftfield. That loaded the bases for Casteel, who delivered, ramming a bases-clearing double into the leftfield corner on the first pitch, putting the Nuts up, 5-0. A sacrifice fly later added a final run, and the Blaze seemed to be fairly well buried, trailing 6-0.
Kudos go out to the Blaze position players and coaching staff for putting together a comeback that gave Modesto a serious scare. In the 8th inning, with Nelson Gonzalez on the hill, five consecutive Blaze reached base with two outs, highlighted by a Yorman Rodriguez two-run double, scoring four times, and cutting the Modesto lead to just 6-4.
Then, in the 9th, off closer Scott Oberg (S, 15), the first two Blaze reached base, with Juan Duran drawing a walk, and Kyle Waldrop following with a bouncing ball single. After a strikeout, a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, but Oberg fanned David Vidal and Yovan Gonzalez to strand the runners, and lock up the tough win for the Nuts.
The well-fought loss drops the Blaze to 2-1 in the four game series with Modesto, which wraps up on Sunday, Father's Day, at 1:05pm. The matinee will feature Tyler Gagnon throwing for the Nuts, and All-Star Carlos Contreras will go for Bakersfield.
Make sure to tune in to listen to the final game of the first half, as Dan Besbris brings the call live online through the Blaze Gameday Audio link at BakersfieldBlaze.com. The pregame show begins at 1:00pm, with Blaze baseball to follow.
California League Stories from June 15, 2013
- JetHawks Win South's First Half, Clinch Playoffs - Lancaster JetHawks
- Hessler Strong in Win over San Jose - Visalia Rawhide
- Late Comeback Falls Short in 6-4 Loss - Bakersfield Blaze
- Quakes Rock Ports 13-2 - Stockton Ports
- Giants Clinch First Half Title with 10-Inning Win - San Jose Giants
- 1st Half Title Hopes Alive After 4-3 Victory - Inland Empire 66ers
- 'Hawks Rally in Ninth to Clinch Share of Title - Lancaster JetHawks
- Nuts Fall 5-3, Drop Fourth Straight - Modesto Nuts
- Garcia Goes Deep Twice in Big Win - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Blaze Capitalize in 6th, Hold off Modesto, 5-3 - Bakersfield Blaze
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