The sun slowly sets over Sam Lynn Ballpark beyond Bakersfield Blaze player Ramon Moria before agame against the Stockton Ports on Aug. 26, 2016. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Photos from one of the last minor league games to be played in Bakersfield.
Fans wait to get into Sam Lynn Ballpark to attend one of the last games the Blaze will play in Bakersfield. Games often start around 8 p.m. during the longest days of summer because the batter’s box faces into the setting sun. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Bakersfield Blaze player Braden Bishop, left, prepares for his at-bat while fans take in one of their last games at Sam Lynn Ballpark. When the season ends and the team folds, it will bring to close 75 years of baseball in the Central California city. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Official scorer Tim Wheeler, 58, shows off his Blaze tattoo before a gameagainst the Stockton Ports. Wheeler has been the team’s official scorer for the last 22 years witha streak of 1,439 games in a row as of Aug. 26. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
A groundskeeper waters down the field in the late afternoon light before the Blaze play one of their last games at Sam Lynn Ballpark. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Eight-year-old twins Nathan, left, and Jonathan Vendsel, attend a Blaze game against the Stockton Ports on Aug. 26. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
The sun slowly sets over Sam Lynn Ballpark as the Blaze’s Joe DeCarlo stretches before a game against the Ports. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
“We’re very disappointed,” said Lacy Ayala, 25, holding her son Liam, 4, of minor league baseball ending in Bakersfield. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
Bakersfield Blaze infielder Justin Seager walks on to the durgoutbefore the start of a gameagainst the Stockton Ports at Sam Lynn Ballpark. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Gianfranco Wawoe stretches before going to bat against the Stockton Ports at Sam Lynn Ballpark. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
The Bakersfield Blaze celebrate a win against the Stockton Ports at Sam Lynn Ballpark in Bakersfield. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Eric Noble, foreground, and Eli Bauman rest comfortably in lounge chairs while watching one of the last games that the Bakersfield Blaze played at Sam Lynn Ballpark. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
Fans get autographs from Bakersfield Blaze players as Coach Max Venable walks to the locker room after defeating the Stockton Ports at Sam Lynn Ballpark. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Bakersfield Blaze bat boy Jordan Szolek sits in a corner of the field while watching his team take on the Stockton Ports at Sam Lynn Ballpark. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)