Rawhide Rally Late, Beat Ports 6-4
July 24, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
VISALIA, Calif. - The Stockton Ports fell short in their attempt to match their longest win streak of the season on Saturday night at Recreation Ballpark. The Visalia Rawhide scored two runs in the eighth inning to break a 4-4 tie as they sent Stockton to a 6-4 loss, handing the Ports their first loss on their seven-game road trip.
After squandering a bases-loaded, one-out opportunity in the first, Stockton plated the game's first run in the second inning. Richie Martin reached on a throwing error committed by Visalia third baseman Joe Munoz and scored on a two-out double by Melvin Mercedes.
Visalia took its first lead of the series in the bottom of the third. Ports starter James Naile, who retired the first six batters he faced in his California League debut, gave up four straight hits to open the third. Michael Perez and Zach Nehrir opened the frames with singles and Galli Cribbs added an RBI single to center to tie the game at 1-1. Victor Reyes followed with an RBI double and Stryker Trahan with a sac-fly to center to make it a 3-1 Rawhide lead.
The three third inning runs were the only runs allowed by Naile in what was an otherwise very successful debut. Nail set the side down in order in four of his six innings, including striking out the side to end his outing in the sixth. He would not factor into the decision, going six innings and allowing three runs on five hits while walking one and striking out seven.
Stockton tied the game in the fifth inning with four straight one-out hits off Rawhide starter Markus Solbach. Joe Bennie, Sandber Pimentel and Jose Brizuela singled to load the bases. Seth Brown came up and singled to left as the Ports tied the contest at 3-3.
Solbach would not factor into the decision, going five innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on 11 hits while striking out seven.
Matt Stalcup (3-1) took over for Stockton in the seventh. With runners at second and third and two outs, Stalcup issued back-to-back walks to Reyes and Trahan, with Trahan's bringing in the go-ahead run to give Visalia a 4-3 lead.
Stockton got the run back in the top of the eighth facing Bud Jeter (8-2). With two outs and the bases empty, Jeter gave up three straight singles to James Harris, Mercedes and B.J. Boyd, with Boyd's single on the infield scoring Harris to tie the score at 4-4.
Stalcup returned for the eighth and struck out Grant Heyman to open the inning, but Heyman reached on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Munoz doubled to center to drive in Heyman and break the tie and Perez followed with an RBI double to left-center to make it a 6-4 Rawhide lead.
Stalcup suffered the loss, going two innings and allowing three runs on three hits while walking three and striking out three.
Cameron Gann (SV, 2) set the side down in order in the ninth to notch the save. Jeter, who was charged his third blown save of the season, would pick up the victory for Visalia.
The Ports and Rawhide play the finale of their four-game set on Sunday night at Recreation Ballpark. Kyle Friedrichs (3-2, 3.97 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Rawhide right-hander Brad Keller (7-6, 4.28 ERA). First pitch is set for 6 p.m. PDT. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
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California League Stories from July 24, 2016
- Sixers Lose Late Lead, Series - Inland Empire 66ers
- Nuts Fall 8-1 in Season Series Finale vs. Blaze - Modesto Nuts
- Late Rally Propels Giants to Series Win over Sixers - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Hammer Storm on Sunday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Giants Rack up 18 Hits in 8-1 Win over 66ers - Inland Empire 66ers
- Back-To-Back Doubles for Visalia Breaks Late Tie in 6-4 - Visalia Rawhide
- Rawhide Rally Late, Beat Ports 6-4 - Stockton Ports
- Seesaw Battle Points to Modesto in the End - Bakersfield Blaze
- Nuts Beat Back Blaze in 5-4 Win - Modesto Nuts
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