Late Extra-Base Barrage Boost Blaze to 5-2 Win
June 7, 2013 - California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
The Bakersfield Blaze and Lake Elsinore Storm traded single tallies twice in the first six innings, but the Blaze broke out the big(ger) stick in the 7th, posting a double, triple, and homer en route to a 5-2 win over the Storm in the opener of a four-game set at Sam Lynn Ballpark on Thursday night.
Carlos Contreras got the starting nod for the Blaze, and worked a tightrope act throughout the contest. In the 1st inning, Carlos worked out of a first-and-third, one-out jam, and in the 4th, he managed to wiggle free from a one-out, bases-loaded situation.
The Blaze got the first score of the game in the 3rd, with Juan Perez smacking a double, and Marquez Smith bringing him home with a base hit.
But, for the first of two times, the Storm got even. In the 5th, League stolen base leader Travis Jankowski singled, stole second, took third on a grounder and scored on a passed ball.
Juan Perez responded for the Blaze, bashing a solo homer to right to put Bakersfield back up, 2-1, but Jankowski and the Storm got it right back off reliever Jacob Johnson (W, 4-2) on a single, another stolen bag, and a controversial ground rule double.
The Blaze took the lead for good in the 7th, putting a crooked number on the scoreboard. With one out, surging Juan Silverio doubled to left, and Juan Silva followed with a line shot to right. Silva, showing aggressive and smart baserunning, stretched what appeared to be a double into a triple, plating the go-ahead run, and putting himself 90-feet from home with just one out. Juan Duran's grounder with the infield in appeared to be Storm-friendly, but Silva broke for home, and, catching Lake Elsinore off guard, Silva came in to give the Blaze some breathing room. Chris Berset followed with a solo blast just over the wall in right, and the Blaze went up comfortably, 5-2.
Johnson followed with his third inning of relief, and Pat Doyle (S, 1) locked down a 1-2-3 9th inning for his first save of the year.
The Blaze get back to 12 games under 500 with another strong late-game showing, and improve to a robust 12-9 against the California League South, with three more against the Storm coming over the weekend before the Rawhide come to town.
Fireworks Friday is sold out at Sam Lynn Ballpark, but tickets remain to the rest of the homestand.
Make sure to listen to Dan Besbris call the Friday Night Blaze Game of the Week on local radio on SmartTalk AM-1230 or online at BakersfieldBlaze.com. Pregame show begins at 7:35pm, with the game to follow.
California League Stories from June 7, 2013
- Quakes Shut Out on Friday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Inland Empire Trio Makes All Star Team - Inland Empire 66ers
- Trio Of Mavericks Earn All-Star Honors - High Desert Mavericks
- Four JetHawks Named to Cal League All-Star Team - Lancaster JetHawks
- Quakes' Cuevas Added to All-Star Team - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Nuts' Winkler, Jensen Named Cal League All-Stars - Modesto Nuts
- Giants With All-Star Game Leading Seven Players on California League Roster - San Jose Giants
- California League Announces All-Star Game - CalL1
- Ports' Drew Granier and Max Muncy selected as Mid-Season All-Stars - Stockton Ports
- Ryan Mount to Represent Quakes at All-Star Game - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Three Rawhide Players Named To Cal League All-Star Roster - Visalia Rawhide
- Modesto's Comeback Snaps Stockton's Win Streak - Stockton Ports
- Modesto Stuns Stockton in Come-From-Behind Win - Modesto Nuts
- Rawhide Not Shaken in Pitchers' Duel - Visalia Rawhide
- Early Offense, Blackburn's Gem Lift Giants To Victory - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Drop Squeaker to Rawhide on Thursday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Late Extra-Base Barrage Boost Blaze to 5-2 Win - Bakersfield Blaze
- Giants Hand 'Hawks Fourth Straight Loss - Lancaster JetHawks
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