Stockton Offense Struggles in 4-2 Loss
August 31, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
The Stockton Ports were officially eliminated from playoff contention on Tuesday night at Banner Island Ballpark. The Visalia Rawhide got a three-run homer from Michael Perez in the second inning and that proved to be the difference in the ballgame as Stockton fell by a final of 4-2, despite Ports pitching retiring the final 13 consecutive Visalia batters.
Visalia's first run came on the first out of the game. Colin Bray singled to open the ballgame and went on to steal second, advance to third on a throwing error by Ports catcher Iolana Akau, and score on a groundout by Victor Reyes. Henderson Alvarez (0-1), who started the game for Stockton on a Major League rehab assignment, pitched into the second inning and allowed a leadoff single to Trevor Mitsui. James Naile then took over for Alvarez and after retiring his first batter, walked Henry Castillo and then gave up a three-run homer to Perez, his first of the season, to make it a 4-0 Rawhide lead.
Alvarez would suffer the loss as he allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits while not issuing a walk or recording a strikeout in an inning-plus. He threw 25 pitches, 18 for strikes.
Naile would pitch around a single and a walk in the third inning, a two-out triple by Galli Cribbs in the fourth and a two-out double by Austin Byler in the fifth. He went four innings and allowed two runs on four hits while striking out four.
Beginning with the final out of the fifth recorded by Naile, Stockton pitching retired the final 13 batters to close the game. Jared Lyons pitched two perfect frames beginning in the sixth and struck out five of the six batters he faced. Joey Wagman pitched two perfect innings and struck out three beginning in the eighth.
Stockton's first run of the game was scored in the bottom of the second. Chris Iriart led off with a single, Justin Higley walked and they both advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. After Mikey White struck out, Seth Brown singled to left to score Iriart and cut the Ports deficit to 4-1. Rawhide starter Justin Donatella (5-4) would strike out Akau and Richie Martin back-to-back to escape further trouble.
Donatella earned the win, going five innings and allowing one run on four hits while striking out five.
Bud Jeter took over in the sixth and pitched around a two-out walk in his first inning. In the seventh, Jeter gave up a leadoff double to White, who scored three batters later on a fielder's choice force play hit into by Martin to cut the Stockton deficit to 4-2. Beginning with that out, Rawhide pitching retired the final eight Stockton batters of the game.
Jeter went two innings and allowed one run on two hits. Nick Baker and Gabriel Moya (SV, 4) pitched a perfect eighth and ninth, respectively, to end the game. Moya notched his fourth save of the season.
The Ports and Rawhide play the middle game of their three-game set on Wednesday at Banner Island Ballpark. Kyle Friedrichs (3-7, 4.42 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Visalia left-hander Alex Young (2-6, 3.74 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 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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