STOCKTON, Calif. - Stockton Ports outfielder Archie Gilbert was a one-man wrecking crew in Game 1 of the best-of-five Cal-League Championship Series on Thursday night. Gilbert, who has been a consistent spark plug for the Ports all year, was that and more against the Lancaster JetHawks. Gilbert drove in six runs in a 3-for-4 effort to lift the Ports to a Game 1 win over the JetHawks by a final of 9-5.
The Ports came out gunning in the bottom of the second against JetHawks starter Terumasa Matsuo, who had just been called up from Low-A Greenville. Josh Donaldson led off the frame with a double and Corey Brown followed with a walk. Frank Martinez came up with two on and nobody out and knocked an RBI double to left, scoring Donaldson and giving the Ports a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Mike Massaro walked to load the bases. Gilbert followed and delivered one of the biggest blows of the night--a three-run double to left to give the Ports a big 4-0 edge.
Lancaster refused to be buried early. In the top of the third, a little defensive miscue led to a tie ballgame. Ports starter Scott Moore walked Aaron Reza to start the inning, and two batters later with one out, Kris Negron reached on an infield single to put runners at second and third. Yamaico Navarro then hit what looked to be a potential double-play ball to third baseman Chris Carter, but Carter bobbled the ball and everybody was safe. Daniel Nava came up next and hit a sac-fly to left, giving the JetHawks their first run of the game. Jon Still followed with a two-run double, scoring two runs and pulling the JetHawks to within a run at 4-3. After walking Michael Jones, Moore gave up an RBI double to Luis Exposito, tying the game at four. The third inning would be Moore's last, and he received a no-decision after allowing four runs, none of which were earned, on four hits while striking out four.
After tying the game, the JetHawks would grab their first and only lead in the fourth. With reliever Jason Glushon (1-0) on the hill, Lancaster loaded the bases with nobody out on a walk and two bunt singles. Glushon would bear down, however, and get Navarro to hit into a double play, plating the go-ahead run for Lancaster, but keeping them out of a big inning.
Trailing 5-4, the Ports would even the score in the bottom of the fourth. With Matsuo on the hill, The Ports put runners at the corners with one out. The JetHawks brought in reliever Craig Molldrem (0-1) to face Gilbert, and Gilbert brought in Martinez from third with a sac-fly to left, knotting the game at five. Matsuo would go 3.1 innings in his Cal-League debut, receiving a no-decision after allowing five runs on five hits while striking out four and walking three.
Stockton would take the lead for good in the sixth. With one out, Martinez and Jermaine Mitchell knocked back-to-back doubles with Mitchell's scoring Martinez to put the Ports ahead 6-5. Two batters later with two out and Mitchell at third, Gilbert struck again with an infield single that went off the glove of the diving second baseman Reza, giving the Ports a 7-5 cushion. Both runs came at the expense of Molldrem, who would take the loss after allowing two runs in 2.1 innings.
The Ports got a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth off JetHawks reliever Felipe Garcia. Following a leadoff double from Massaro, Gilbert struck again with an RBI single to left, giving the Ports an 8-5 lead and Gilbert his sixth RBI of the night. Gilbert would come home later in the inning on a Matt Spencer sac-fly off reliever Josh Papelbon to give the Ports a 9-5 lead.
Stockton's bullpen, a combination of Glushon, James Heuser, and Mike Benacka, would combine to hold the JetHawks to just one run over six innings of relief. Glushon picked up the win after allowing a run in three innings of work.
Ahead in the series 1-0, the Ports will play their final game of the year on Friday at Banner Island Ballpark before hitting the road to wrap up the series. Right-hander and A's 2008 second-round pick Tyson Ross (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will take the mound for Stockton in his second start for the Ports. He'll be opposed by right-hander Chris Province (0-0, 5.40 ERA) for the JetHawks. First pitch of Game 2 is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.
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