Lutz Dinger Completes Comeback, 5-3
Published on July 15, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
On Billy Hamilton Bobblehead Night, it felt like speed should be the asset to decide the ballgame, but it was just the opposite. A key two-run homer from Donald Lutz in a pivotal 8th inning turned a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 lead, and the Bakersfield Blaze went on to defeat the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 5-3 in the opener of a three-game home set.
The game was well-pitched for most of the night. Josh Smith got the start for the Blaze, and after allowing a solo homer to Joc Pederson in the first inning set down the Quakes until the 6th. Meanwhile, Andres Santiago was dealing for the Quakes, his 3rd straight strong outing.
Santiago finished his night allowing just two runs on two hits, though errors accounted for one of the two runs. The big righty also collected 8 strikeouts, his 4th straight outing with 8 or more whiffs. It was not enough.
After Blaine Howell entered for the Blaze and bailed Bakersfield out of a 1st and 3rd, 1-out jam in the 7th, Howell got the first 2 outs in the 8th before running into trouble. Pat Doyle (W, 9-3) was called upon to get the final out in the 8th inning, and the Blaze made a winner out of the big righty.
In the bottom half of the 8th inning, Ryan O'Sullivan (L, 1-1) walked the leadoff man, Devin Lohman, bringing up a slumping Donald Lutz. The slump ended at the perfect time. Lutz got a 1-1 fastball right down the middle and clobbered a drive to leftcenter for a 2-run homer, giving the Blaze the lead. Another walk and single followed the homer, and a fielder's choice grounder and error led to the 3rd run of the inning ... 1 of 4 errors on the night for the Quakes.
Doyle continued in the 9th and set down the side in order to finish off the thrilling come-from-behind victory in front of a crowd of 1,000-plus!
The victory was the fifth in a row for the Blaze, and moves the team back to 11-12 in the second half and 52-41 overall.
The series with the Dodgers affiliate, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, continues tomorrow at 7:45pm on Chevy Youth Baseball Kids Club Sunday, with Bakersfield's Daniel Renken opposing Rancho's Garrett Gould.
Can't make it? Listen live as Dan Besbris calls all the action on BakersfieldBlaze.com, the exclusive internet home of Blaze baseball.
California League Stories from July 15, 2012
- Long Bombs Aplenty in Lancaster - Lancaster JetHawks
- Bradley Pitches Giants to 2-1 Victory - San Jose Giants
- RANCHO OPENS ROAD TRIP WITH 5-3 LOSS - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Modesto Drives Lancaster Nuts in 11-3 Loss - Lancaster JetHawks
- Lutz Dinger Completes Comeback, 5-3 - Bakersfield Blaze
- 66ers' Win Streak Snapped by Storm - Inland Empire 66ers
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