Defense Dooms Ports in 5-1 Loss
April 21, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports ended their 17-inning scoring drought with a run in the bottom of the ninth, but that was the only positive they took away from Monday night's contest with the Bakersfield Blaze. Stockton committed five errors that resulted in three unearned runs on their way to a 5-1 loss to Bakersfield to begin a three-game series at Banner Island Ballpark.
Starters Ryan Yarbrough (1-1) for the Blaze and Dylan Covey (1-2) for the Ports were locked in a scoreless duel until the top of the fourth, when Tyler O'Neill led off with a triple to right and scored on an ensuing groundout by Tyler Marlette to give the Blaze a 1-0 lead. Stockton had a hard time producing any offense versus Yarbrough, who went on to pick up the win after tossing six scoreless innings and allowing six hits while striking out one.
The Blaze stretched their lead in the seventh. With one out, Austin Wilson homered to right off Covey to make it a 2-0 Blaze lead. Covey would finish the seventh and suffer the loss despite pitching well, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out three.
Stockton's poor defense came into play beginning in the eighth. With one out, Ian Miller singled to left and advanced on a bobble by left fielder J.P. Sportman. Two batters later, O'Neill reached on an error committed by first baseman Jon Nogowski that kept the inning alive and scored Miller. After Marlette singled to right, Jay Baum reached on a dropped fly ball by center fielder Justin Higley to bring in another run and stretch the Blaze lead to 4-0. The two runs in the eighth were unearned for Ports reliever Sam Roberts.
Corey Walter entered the game to pitch the ninth for Stockton and Tim Lopes opened the inning by reaching on a throwing error committed by shortstop Franklin Barreto. Lopes would go on to score on a two-out RBI double by Miller to give the Blaze a 5-0 lead. It was an unearned run allowed by Walter in his lone inning of relief.
Stockton eventually got on the board in the ninth as Tyler Marincov tripled off Blaze reliever Will Mathis to open the frame. Higley followed with an RBI groundout to second to score Marincov and cut the Blaze lead to 5-1. After allowing a single, Mathis yielded a two-out walk to B.J. Boyd and was lifted for Emilio Pagan (SV, 2), who struck out Sportman with the possible-tying run in the on-deck circle to earn his second save of the season.
The Ports and Blaze play the middle game of their three-game set on Tuesday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Tim Atherton (0-0, 1.80 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Bakersfield right-hander Dan Altavilla (0-2, 5.40 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.
California League Stories from April 21, 2015
- Defense and Cold Bats Betray Nuts in 5-0 Loss - Modesto Nuts
- Rawhide Homestand Preview: April 23-26 - Visalia Rawhide
- San Jose Giant Race June 6, 2015 at Municipal Stadium - San Jose Giants
- Defense Dooms Ports in 5-1 Loss - Stockton Ports
- Rancho Keeps Rolling with Win over Lancaster - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- McDonald Hits Third Homer in Loss to Quakes - Lancaster JetHawks
- Win Streak Reaches Four - Bakersfield Blaze
- Giants Pitching Shines in 5-0 Shutout of 66ers - San Jose Giants
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