Ports Prevail 5-3 in 13
July 21, 2013 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. - For the third time in a week, the Stockton Ports played a game that went at least 13 innings. For the second time in that span, the Ports emerged victorious. The Ports got a two-out, two-run single from Josh Whitaker in the top of the 13th to break a 3-3 tie and beat the San Jose Giants by a final of 5-3 at Municipal Stadium.
San Jose got the scoring started in the first inning as Elliott Blair doubled and scored two batters later on a sac-fly from Mac Williamson that gave the Giants a 1-0 lead. Ports starter Josh Bowman pitched around two errors that were committed with two outs in the inning to limit the Giants to just the lone run in the first.
Stockton tied the score immediately in the second as B.A. Vollmuth led off with his 19th home run of the season to knot the game at 1-1. It was only the fifth home run allowed all season by Giants starter Ty Blach. It was the only run allowed by Blach over his five innings of work as he gave up six hits while striking out four.
San Jose recaptured the lead in the third inning. With one out, Brock Bond singled and went to second on an errant throw back to the infield by left fielder Dusty Robinson. With two outs, Ricky Oropesa drove him in with a single to center to give the Giants a 2-1 lead. The Giants made it a two-run lead in the fifth. With runners at the corners and one out, Bond scored on a passed ball charged to Ports catcher Bruce Maxwell that increased the Giants lead to 3-1.
Bowman went six innings for the Ports and allowed three runs on six hits while striking out three.
Jeff Soptic took over for the Giants in the sixth and allowed three straight hits with one out. Tony Thompson doubled to left, Bobby Crocker hit an RBI single to left and went to second as Devin Harris overran the ball, and Robinson drove in Crocker with a single to right that tied the game at 3-3. Soptic allowed two runs on four hits in his one inning of relief.
The game remained knotted at 3-3 until the 13th inning. Stockton's bullpen, a combination of Seth Frankoff, Ryan Dull, Tucker Healy (1-1) and Shaeffer Hall (SV, 1) combined for eight scoreless innings of relief. Dull pitched around a single, a walk and a passed ball in the 10th to keep the Giants from plating the winning run. Healy, who earned the win, tossed two innings of relief and in both the 11th and 12th, stranded the potential-winning run at third. Healy pitched around errors committed in both the 11th and 12th innings.
Stockton's offense was shut down by Giants reliever Chris Marlowe, who tossed three perfect innings starting in the seventh. Stephen Harrold gave up a walk and a single to start the 10th inning, but retired three batters in a row, including a pair of strikeouts, with runners at first and second with nobody out. The Ports drew a walk and got a single from Myrio Richard with two outs in the 11th but against stranded a pair of runners.
Jose Casilla (3-4) took over in the 12th and pitched around a leadoff single and a stolen base by Whitaker. In the 13th, Casilla retired the first two batters, but then issued a two-out walk to Wade Kirland, who went 3-for-4 and reached base five of the six times he came to the plate. After Richard singled to left, Antonio Lamas drew a walk that loaded the bases for Whitaker, who came up and hit an opposite-field two-run single to right that put the Ports in front 5-3.
Casilla took the loss, going two innings and allowing two runs on three hits while walking two.
Hall came on in relief of Healy to pitch the 13th and set the side down in order to record his first save of the season.
The Ports and Giants play the second game of their three-game series on Sunday night at Municipal Stadium. Michael Ynoa (0-1, 12.91 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by San Jose southpaw Kelvin Marte (2-2, 3.34 ERA). First pitch is set for 5 p.m. PDT.
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California League Stories from July 21, 2013
- Hot Temps and Hot Bats Lead Blaze to 10-7 Win - Bakersfield Blaze
- JetHawks Fall Despite Heineman's Big Day - Lancaster JetHawks
- Ports Prevail 5-3 in 13 - Stockton Ports
- Bullpen Can't Hold Late Lead in Nuts' Loss - Modesto Nuts
- Ninth-Inning Rally Saves Quakes - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Giants Fall in 13 Innings to Ports - San Jose Giants
- Lancaster Hits Century Mark with Loss - Lancaster JetHawks
- Dyer, Blaze Snap Skid with 6-3 Win - Bakersfield Blaze
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