Patience Is Key as Blaze Draw 13 Walks and Win 15-10
Published on June 24, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
Yowza! In the Bakersfield Blaze highest scoring game of the 2012 campaign (both for and against), the boys from Bako drew 13 walks and pounded out 12 hits en route to a 15-10 win over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Saturday night.
The game began with offensive fireworks, and never slowed down. In the top of the second inning, the Blaze mounted an extended 2-out rally, with Theo Bowe and Billy Hamilton each driving in 2 to put Bakersfield on top 4-0. The Quakes, however, cut that deficit in half quickly, with Austin Gallagher driving a 2-run shot to right to make it 4-2.
After a scoreless 3rd, the Blaze came alive again with a 6-run 4th inning, tying the team's single-inning high for the year. The big blow was a Travis Mattair grand slam, the first of the year for the Blaze, and the capper on a wild inning that included 3 walks.
The Quakes then slowly made their way back into it. A single unearned tally in the 5th, a Bobby Coyle 2-run shot in the 6th (that ended the night for Blaze starter Daniel Renken (W, 4-3)), and another single run in the 6th made the Blaze advantage just 10-6.
But Bakersfield had another response.
Bakersfield added 2 in the 8th and 3 in the 9th on a series of walks, and though the Quakes scored a trio of their own in the bottom of the 9th inning, Bakersfield had enough cushion that it did not end up making a difference.
The final score of 15-10 marked the highest run total for the Blaze this season, and also marked the first time the team won when allowing 8 runs or more. Travis Mattair ended the night going 3-for-4 with 2 walks, the grand slam and 5 RBI, and Billy Hamilton stole four more bags to give the speed demon 87 on the season. In addition, the 13 walks taken by the Blaze marked the most this season (the previous high was 10).
The win moves the Blaze to 43-30 overall and 2-1 in the second half, and the team will shoot for win 44 tomorrow afternoon at 2:05pm as they wrap up the series in Rancho before heading to Visalia. Pat Doyle will make his second start of the year for Bakersfield, and first since becoming a permanent starter.
Tune in LIVE on internet only at 1:55pm as Dan Besbris calls all the action.
California League Stories from June 24, 2012
- Late Lead Slips Away in 6-5 Loss to Visalia - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Fall Sunday, Prepare for Monday Tie-Breaker in HD - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Eighth-Inning Home Run Sinks Giants - San Jose Giants
- Blaze Win Shoot-Out on Saturday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- JetHawks Grounded as Storm Win 7-6 - Lake Elsinore Storm
- Patience Is Key as Blaze Draw 13 Walks and Win 15-10 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Error Drops 66ers to 0-3 in 2nd Half - Inland Empire 66ers
- JetHawks can't hold four run lead, lose 7-6 - Lancaster JetHawks
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