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Stockton Ports

Blaze Blank Ports 9-0

April 8, 2008 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - One night after recording their first shutout of the 2008 season, the Stockton Ports were handed a taste of their own medicine. The previously winless Bakersfield Blaze rolled into town and ignited an offensive firestorm, lighting up the scoreboard with 14 hits and beating the Ports by a final of 9-0.

The night's pitching matchup featured a battle of two guys returning from injury-plagued 2007 seasons, as Ports starter Jared Lansford (0-1) took on Blaze right-hander John Bannister (1-0). Lansford had nagging arm troubles that kept him sidelined, while Bannister sat out all of last season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

It was the Blaze who got to Lansford in the early going. In the top of the second, Casey Harren hit a sac fly to left to bring home Grant Gerrard and give the Blaze a 1-0 lead.

Offensively, the Ports were able to get the leadoff man aboard in each of the first four innings, but in three of those four frames, the inning's momentum was killed by the double play ball. Mike Affronti, Archie Gilbert, and Chris Carter hit into double plays in the second, third, and fourth innings, respectively, and the twin-killings were timely for Bannister, who seemed to gather momentum with each one turned.

Meanwhile, Lansford ran into trouble in the fourth. The first three batters--John Whittleman, Chad Tracy, and Gerrard, all reached base, with Whittleman and Tracy scoring on Gerrard's double to make it 4-0.Two batters later, Harren singled to left, and Chris Gradoville followed with a single to right, scoring Gerrard to make it 5-0. Lansford was taken out after 3.2 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits while striking out three.

James Heuser relieved Lansford and tossed 2.1 scoreless innings to stop the bleeding for Stockton.

The runs were plenty for the Bannister, as he tossed five scoreless innings in the winning effort, allowing just three hits while striking out four.

Bakersfield's bullpen made the runs stand tall, as Jared Hyatt and Andrew Laughter combined for four scoreless innings of relief.

The Blaze added four more runs in the top of the ninth--three coming off Ports reliever Derrick Gordon, and the other coming off Sam Demel.

The Ports and Blaze will play Game 2 of their three game set on Tuesday at Banner Island Ballpark. Fautino De Los Santos (0-1, 3.00 ERA) will take the hill for Stockton, opposed by Tommy Hunter (0-1, 6.00 ERA) for Bakersfield. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PST.

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