Stockton Showcases Big League Arms in 4-3 Win
May 31, 2006 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
STOCKTON, Calif- You knew it would happen eventually. After a month-and-a-half of struggles and injuries, Cliff Pennington is beginning to look like the third-ranked prospect in the Oakland A's farm system.
On a night where Oakland A's pitcher Jay Witasick suited up for the Ports on a rehab assignment, Pennington's two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh proved to be the game-winner in a 4-3 Ports victory over the first place San Jose Giants. The blast was Pennington's second in his last six games, and it moved the Ports a game closer to San Jose in the Cal-League North Division. Stockton is now 6.5 games behind the Giants with three more head-to-head matchups left before the All-Star break.
Witasick pitched two innings and allowed two runs on three hits, walked and hit a batter and did not record a strikeout. Following Witasick, Kazuhito Tadano made his Ports debut. Tadano was acquired by the A's this past offseason after spending most of his career with the Cleveland Indians. Tadano tossed three innings and allowed one run on three hits while walking one and striking out two.
Stockton's scheduled starter, Scot Drucker (4-4), finally made it into the ballgame to start the sixth. Drucker earned the win for the Ports as he threw two scoreless innings and allowed just one hit while striking out one. Setup man Jeff Coleman tossed a perfect eighth inning, paving the way for closer Mike Mitchell (SV, 9) to notch his ninth save of the season.
All three runs for San Jose came on RBI singles. Mark Minicozzi got the scoring started with an RBI single in the first, and Marcus Sanders chipped in with two more in the second and the fourth. The three runs were not enough to support a strong effort from Giants starter Jesus Reina, who allowed just two runs in six innings of work. Brooks McNiven (2-3) took the loss in relief after surrendering the home run to Pennington.
Stockton's two other runs came on a two-run blast from Richie Robnett in the bottom of the first. The homer came on the heels of a triple from Gregorio Petit, who also had a couple nice defensive plays on the night at second base.
The Ports and Giants will play a doubleheader on Wednesday; two seven-inning games beginning at 5:05 at Banner Island Ballpark. In Game 1, Stockton will be the visiting team to make up for a game that was rained out at San Jose Municipal Stadium in April. Mike Madsen (2-2, 4.04 ERA) will toe the rubber in the first game, opposed by Anthony Moreno (2-2, 4.75 ERA) for the Giants. In Game 2, lefty Trent Peterson (0-3, 8.10) will be on the hill for Stockton, opposed by Caleb Salankey (0-0, 7.36 ERA) for San Jose. Gates will open at 4:30 for the 5:05 start time. Game 2 will begin approximately 20 minutes after the conclusion of Game 1.
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