Blaze Quiet in Road Opening Loss, 6-2
Ports hit three homers to down Bako club
The Stockton Ports brought their big bats and big arms in the season-opener, and the Bakersfield Blaze were the victims, as Stockton piled up three homers en route to a 6-2 win at Banner Island Ballpark in Stockton.
The game got off to an inauspicious start for Bakersfield. After stranding a pair of baserunners in the top of the first inning, Stockton came right back with a two-run homer in the bottom half, a towering drive to leftcenter off the bat of Josh Whitaker.
Then, seemingly moments later, Blaze starter Tanner Robles (L, 0-1) suffered a next-inning deja vu, allowing a two-run homer to Bakersfield-native Dusty Robinson, and before the Blaze could blink, the Ports had jumped out to a four run lead.
Bakersfield got a couple back in the third. Ports starter Drew Granier, cruising along, ran into trouble at the top of the order. Juan Perez singled to lead off the frame, and Ryan Wright doubled to put runners at 2nd and 3rd with nobody out. After Kyle Waldrop was fanned, Yorman Rodriguez whacked a line drive off the left field wall, scoring two, and cutting the deficit to 4-2.
The Blaze would get no closer. Stockton tacked on a run in the 4th off reliever Pat Doyle, and another in the 5th on the team's third homer of the night. Meanwhile, the Ports bullpen was dynamite. The combination of Pedro Vidal and Jose Macias worked 4.0 spotless innings, allowing just one baserunner while keeping the Blaze at bay.
For the Blaze, the bright spot was the strikeout. Despite allowing 6 runs, Blaze pitchers combined to fan 13 Ports batters on the night, a big total in game one. And if the home run ball was eliminated, it would have been a different night.
A different night, however, it was not, and the Blaze will look to bounce back Friday night at 7:10pm in game two of the series. Bakersfield will hand the ball to Carlos Contreras, the converted closer, and Stockton will turn to 6'5" righthander Blake Hassebrock.
Listen LIVE to Friday's road game at 7:00pm on internet or local radio, at BakersfieldBlaze.com or on KGEO SmartTalk 1230-AM, the home of the Blaze Friday and Saturday night Games of the Week.