Nuts Blue as Blaze Walk Off
Published on July 6, 2014 under California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
Another night, another walkoff! On a warm Saturday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark, the Bakersfield Blaze collected the club's fourth walkoff win in the last nine home games, 3-2, over the visiting Modesto Nuts.
This time, the hero was John Tolisano, as the Floridian picked up his second walkoff hit within the week.
The ballgame as a whole was exceedingly well-pitched.
Drew Cisco got the starting nod for the Blaze, and with a fresh new haircut, Cisco rolled through 5.2 innings, but suffered an apparent blister in the 6th and had to be removed from the game. Drew surrendered just one run while maintaining his five-plus inning streak.
Mike Dennhardt was called upon in relief, and though he allowed what was the tying run, Mike gave up only the one run over 2.1 frames of relief.
Meanwhile, Devin Burke (L, 5-6) was tremendous for the Nuts. Burke worked his longest outing of the year, going 8.0 innings, but ran out of gas at the wrong time. In the 9th, after Ben Klimesh (W, 4-1) dealt a scoreless top half, Burke came back out to try to go a full game.
Sebastian Elizalde greeted Burke with a single to right, and new Blaze Harold Riggins followed with a knock of his own. Juan Perez failed to sacrifice, but managed to work a walk to load the bases with nobody out, and force the Nuts to go to the bullpen.
Shane Broyles entered, and the Blaze countered with pinch-hitter John Tolisano, who lined the first pitch he saw into left field for the game-winner.
The Blaze got their first two runs in the 4th and 5th innings. An Elizalde double scored Sean Buckley for the first, and Zach Vincej's RBI single in the 5th plated red-hot Sammy Diaz in the 5th.
The victory is the sixth in a row for a Blaze team that just keeps finding ways to win close ballgames. Bakersfield is now 10-6 in the second half, winning 10 of the last 12 games while also moving a season high 24 games over 500 on the year at 55-31.
The homestand continues on Sunday with a rare evening game, as the Blaze once again battle the Nuts. Wandy Peralta will get the nod for Bakersfield, and the Nuts counter with a southpaw of their own in Jayson Aquino on AAA Brunch at the Ballpark Sunday. Great seats are still available.
Can't make it out? Listen to every moment of Blaze baseball live on the internet at BakersfieldBlaze.com and TuneIn Radio as Dan Besbris brings the call. First pitch is set for 7:45pm, gates open at 6:45pm, and the broadcast will go on air five minutes before first pitch.
California League Stories from July 6, 2014
- Kurrasch, Balanced Offense Lead Giants to 8-4 Win - San Jose Giants
- 'Hawks Drop out of First with Loss to Quakes - Lancaster JetHawks
- Ports Doubled Up, Fall 8-4 at San Jose - Stockton Ports
- Ports Hang on for Third Straight Win, Beat Giants 4-3 - Stockton Ports
- Winning Streak Stopped at Nine in Lancaster - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Nuts Blue as Blaze Walk Off - Bakersfield Blaze
- Blaze Break Nuts' Heart in 3-2 Loss - Modesto Nuts
- Ninth-Inning Comeback Falls Short in 4-3 Loss - San Jose Giants
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