2013 PEBA All-Star Game: Live blog from Bakersfield, CA

[John]

Kohler advanced to third on a long fly to center by LaPierre. Then came Rob Raines, and Kojima made the bad choice to give him something to hit on a 3-0 count. Raines took the pitch the opposite way, landing a base hit into right field and scoring Kohler from third. IL 1 - SL 2. Bakersfield closer Enrico Rosada will replace Kojima and attempt to retire Luis Torres to get out of this inning.

[John]

Rosado does just that, and we head to the bottom of the 5th with the SL's lead cut in half. António Rivera is the new pitcher for the IL.

[Daniel Diemer]

Gotta love the running game reports.

[John]

Swedlove collects a base hit in his third at bat, then gets aggressive and steals second base on an 0-2 ball to Barry Murdock. Murdock could restore the SL's 2-run lead here with a base hit...

[John]

Not happening for Murdock, I'm afraid. Rivera retired him for the third out. We're getting some offensive and defensive substitutions into the game now as we head to the sixth. Artie Tillman will be taking the mound, hoping for a better outing than Aurora teammate Kojima had.

[Alan Ehlers]

hey dont tire my pitchers they are supposed to start after the break, Hancock and Conan

[John]

Actually, it looks like Tillman's outing may turn out worse than Kojima's. He struck out Jason Guillén to start things off, but then a walk to Kwang-chih Zhu and a double from Bud Hoffmann puts runners on 2nd and 3rd with only one out. Tempe's Ricardo Díaz is being called on to clean up this mess. He'll be facing pinch hitter George Riley, long-time Coal Sox and now a Featherhead.

[John]

Okay, that was a crazy play! Riley hit a fairly shallow fly to left. Knight caught it and Zhu made as if he was going to tag and head for home, but then pulled up. However, Knight's throw home sailed way wide of the plate. González couldn't come up with it and Zhu was able to score after all. IL 2 - SL 2. Jeff Cline gets a two-out shot with Hoffmann at third.

[Borealis]

Clearly Kojima didn't get the memo regarding the high quality of play Aurora system members have held up in the previous PEBA-verse All-Star games this season. Hopefully Tillerman did....

Note: Maybe John-boy did not either

[John]

Easy out there from Cline. We're done with the top of the sixth, and Cline is done for the game; Connecticut's Samuel Kettley is replacing him in the field. Yoritoki Ando takes over on the mound, facing John Gustafson to start things off.

[John]

Disappointment reigns here in Bakersfield. After Imada spanked a base hit, anticipation was high with Pat Lilly coming up. Unfortunately, Lilly grounded into an inning-ending double play. He's being replaced in the field now with Ron Elmore as we head to the 7th. Nelson Ortíz is the new IL pitcher.

[John]

We've got a two-out threat going for the SL here in the bottom of the 7th. John Knight reached on a base hit off of Nelson Ortíz. A two-out base hit off of Bryant Duncan by Bryant Duncan advanced Knight to third. Now Cary Bond is coming in to face Steve McDonald.

[John]

McDonald was unable to drive home his teammate. Knight is stranded at 3rd. The IL generates nothing in the top of the 8th. We had to the bottom of the frame, with Michael Smallbridge set to face off against pinch hitter Geoff Green of Canton.

[Cole]

Fasten your seat belts. This is a good one

[John]

Smallbridge walks Green and is promptly replaced by Kentucky Thoroughbreds reliever Jorge Aguilar. The lefty will be called on to face the left-handed-batting heart of the SL order. John Gustafson is first up from that Murderer's Row.