Ports Surge Early, Beat Mavs 10-4
August 27, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
ADELANTO, Calif. - Following back-to-back losses, the Stockton Ports got back on the winning track Wednesday night in Adelanto. The Ports plated six runs over the first two innings on their way to defeating the High Desert Mavericks by a final of 10-4, keeping pace with the San Jose Giants atop the Wild Card standings and increasing their lead over the Modesto Nuts to two games after Modesto lost at Lake Elsinore.
Stockton scored in the top of the first inning for a third straight game. Melvin Mercedes drew a one-out walk, stole second and scored on a two-out RBI single by Jake Nottingham to give the Ports a 1-0 lead.
Stockton's biggest inning of the night came in the second. With one out, John Nogowski homered to left to make it a 2-0 lead. It was Stockton's first home run since August 17th. Branden Cogswell followed and drew a walk, and Santiago Chavez came up next and hit a ground ball to first. Ronald Guzman fielded the ball and threw to second and the throw hit Cogswell in the back, an error that put runners at first and second with still one out. After Brett Vertigan walked to load the bases, Mercedes delivered a two-run single to make it a 4-0 game. Yairo Munoz followed with a sac-fly to make it 5-0 and Nottingham reached on a fielding error committed by the first baseman Guzman that allowed another run to score and make it a 6-0 contest.
High Desert's first run came in the bottom of the third off Ports starter Daniel Mengden (6-3). With two on and one out, Evan Van Hoosier singled to center to score Seth Spivey and cut the Ports lead to 6-1. It was the lone run allowed by Mengden who picked up the victory, going five innings and allowing one run on four hits while walking two and striking out two.
The Ports got the run back plus another in the fourth. With one on and two out, Munoz delivered a two-run homer to right to make it an 8-1 game. Those were the final runs allowed by Mavericks starter Dallas Gallant (0-1), who suffered the loss after allowing eight runs (five earned) on five hits while walking three and striking out two.
Jose Manegro took over for High Desert in the fifth and allowed a pair of runs in the sixth inning. With one on and two out, Munoz delivered an RBI double to left to score Chavez. The relay throw that was made to home plate ended up bouncing out of play and because Munoz was on his way to taking third base on the throw, he was awarded home plate on the error to make it a 10-1 contest. Manegro allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in three innings of relief.
Sam Bragg took over for Mengden in the sixth and would allow a pair of runs in the seventh. With two on and two out, Guzman lined a double to left-center to make it a 10-3 game. Those were the only runs yielded by Bragg in two innings of relief.
After Joel Seddon pitched a scoreless eighth, Ben Bracewell came on to finish the game in the ninth and gave up and infield single to Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on back-to-back groundouts. The run was unearned and the only run allowed by Bracewell who finished the ninth in a non-save spot.
The Ports and Mavericks wrap up their four-game set on Thursday night at Mavericks Stadium. Kyle Finnegan (8-8, 5.58 ERA) makes the start for Stockton in place of Raul Alcantara, opposed by High Desert right-hander David Perez (3-1, 4.08 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.
• Discuss this story on the California League message board...
California League Stories from August 27, 2015
- San Jose Giants Homestand Preview: September 1 - September 3 - San Jose Giants
- Ports Surge Early, Beat Mavs 10-4 - Stockton Ports
- Giants Cruise to Fourth Straight Win - San Jose Giants
- JetHawks Fall on Missed Scoring Chances - Lancaster JetHawks
- Pitchers Shine in Giants 1-0 Win over Sixers - Inland Empire 66ers
- Villalona Powers Giants to 8-1 Win - Inland Empire 66ers
- Bullpen Locks Down in Speedy 8-6 Win - Bakersfield Blaze
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
