larger view

The Bakersfield Blaze (7-14) defeated the Stockton Ports (5-17) 9-1 to take game one of a four game series in what would be a wet and windy Friday in front of a home crowd of 3,008 at Banner Island Park, in Stockton.

The game would begin with an eight-minute rain delay as grounds crew worked getting the tarp off the field and the diamond in playable condition.

Ports Starter Carlos Hernandez (1-2) gave up 4 ER on 3H, walking five in 3 IP allowing the Blaze to score a pair of runs in the first and third innings taking an early 4-0 lead.

The game would resume play following a 38-minute rain delay in the top of the fourth.

Blaze starter Michael Main (1-3), would go five innings allowing 5H, and no runs while walking three and fanning five of the 21 batters he faced. Relievers Tanner Roark (0-0) would come in the game in the bottom of the sixth and would allow 4H including Stockton’s only run in the bottom of the eighth before being replaced by Evan Reed (1-0) who would close out contest in the ninth.

The Blaze would add to their lead combining for a total of eleven hits in the game and scoring another pair of runs in the seventh on an RBI double by Mitch Moreland who would later cross the plate on an Ian Gac single to left field. The eighth inning would produced two more runs for Blaze increasing their lead 8-0, on singles from Davis Stoneburner, Engel Beltre and a Renny Osuna sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the eighth, following a 10-minute rain delay, the Ports would snap the eight innings shut out on a Dante Love force ground out to third scoring Todd Johnson. The Ports would load the bases in the 7, 8 and 9 innings and leave a total of 14 stranded.

Bakersfield would solidify their lead in the ninth when Davis Stoneburner singled on a fly ball to right field driving in Bakersfield’s ninth run of the game.

Engel Beltre went 2-for-4 with 2H, and an RBI, Mauro Gomez was 1-for-3 with 2 RBIs, and Davis Stoneburner had 2H, a double and an RBI in 5 AB.

The Blaze will play game two of the four game series at Banner Island Park tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

What’s Burning: The win snaps a four-game Blaze losing streak…RHP Michael Main posted his first win of the 2009 season