Pike's Start Proves Costly in Defeat
May 7, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
Hard rains prevented Bakersfield and Inland Empire from starting their series on Friday night, but on Saturday afternoon the 66ers were antsy to get things going. Tim Arakawa set the tone early with a single and eventually scored in the first inning as the 66ers (8-21) jumped all over Tyler Pike (1-3) and the Blaze (12-16) in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Saturday, 7-4.
Pike's rough outing was a tougher hole for the Blaze to climb out of since the postponed game was cut to 7 innings in length. The left-hander last just 3.1 innings after giving up six earned runs off of five hits and five walks. Zach Welz was 2-3 with a double, three runs scored and an RBI, while Taylor Ward was also 2-3 with a run batted in during the victory. Pike and Jeremy Rhoades opposed each other for the second time in a week, but this time Rhoades got the better of the encounter. Rhoades didn't go the required five innings, but continually got himself out of trouble despite walking seven batters in 4.1 innings. As a team, Bakersfield earned 12 walks and yet they could only manufacture three hits. Justin Seager continues to swing the bat well by extending his season long hitting streak to six games after clubbing a towering shot to dead center field for a two-run homer. That cut Inland Empire's lead to 7-2 in the 4th. Seager's home run appeared to wake Bakersfield up, but the extra free passes were wasted as the team stranded 12 batters in the afternoon affair. With the win, the 66ers snap a three-game losing streak to the Blaze. Keynan Middleton picked up his first win of the season and Eduardo Paredes earned his third save.
The two teams will play again tonight in Game 2 of the doubleheader before having Mother's Day off on Sunday. The series concludes on Monday afternoon with Andrew Moore facing Jake Jewell.
California League Stories from May 7, 2016
- Blaze Swept in Doubleheader - Bakersfield Blaze
- Hawks Tear Up Hide In 19-5 Rout - Lancaster JetHawks
- Win Streak at Six After 2-1 Victory over Storm - San Jose Giants
- Pike's Start Proves Costly in Defeat - Bakersfield Blaze
- Ports Earn First Shutout, Beat Nuts 7-0 - Stockton Ports
- Flores Goes Deep Twice in 14-7 Downing of JetHawks - Visalia Rawhide
- Duggar's Triple Lifts Giants to Fifth Straight Win - San Jose Giants
- Bats Silent in 7-0 Loss - Modesto Nuts
- Visalia blasts four home runs and continues hot hitting ways - Lancaster JetHawks
- Quakes Drop Second Straight on Friday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Completely FREE Baseball on Saturday at 12:30pm - Bakersfield Blaze
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