CalL1 Stockton Ports

Gilbert Gets Game Winning Hit In 5-4 Walk-Off Win

Published on July 1, 2008 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Monday night's game between the Stockton Ports and Modesto Nuts featured a fitting end to an outstanding contest. In a hotly contested game that went into extra innings, the Ports prevailed on a walk-off single from Archie Gilbert in the bottom of the 10th to win by a final of 5-4. It was the 13th time in 16 games that Stockton has beaten Modesto this season.

Modesto drew first blood in the top of the first, Mike McKenry laced an RBI single to center off Ports starter Scott Moore to give the Nuts a 1-0 lead. In the third, Paulk hit the second of back-to-back two-out doubles, scoring Michael Paulk and giving the Nuts a 2-0 edge.

Nuts starter Brandon Durden, who was making his return to the starting rotation after spending all season in the bullpen, had an easy time of it through the first three innings, facing just two over the minimum. In the fourth, however, the Ports offense woke up in a big way. Sean Doolittle led off with a solo homer to cut the deficit to one. Chris Carter followed with a double and Frank Martinez with a single. With two on and nobody out, Raul Padron belted a three-run homer to left-center to give Stockton a 4-2 lead. It was the final hit that Durden would give up, and the last hit the Ports would have until the 10th inning. Durden retired the next three batters in a row to finish his outing and wound up with a no-decision, going four innings and allowing four runs on five hits while striking out one. Outside of those four straight hits, the only other Ports hit in the first four innings was a one-out single from Josh Horton in the first.

Modesto's bullpen took over in a big way after Durden's departure. Following the home run by Padron, Nuts pitchers--Durden, Chris Malone, and David Patton (2-3)--retired the next 18 Ports batters in a row heading into the bottom of the 10th inning.

Meanwhile, the Nuts chipped away at their deficit. Moore loaded the bases with one out in the fifth on a hit batsman and two walks. With two outs, he hit Matt Repec to bring in a run, making it 4-3. Repec was the final batter Moore would face. With the bases loaded, Pat Currin came on and got the final out in the fifth. Moore didn't factor into the decision and went 4.2 innings, allowing three runs on five hits while walking four, hitting two and striking out four.

Currin retired the first six batters he faced, and eight of the first nine. With one out in the top of the eighth, however, Jay Cox launched a solo homer over the Jackson Rancheria Back Porch, knotting the game at four. It was the only run allowed by Currin in 3.1 innings.

Jared Lansford (2-4) came on in the ninth and retired all six batters he faced to take the game into the bottom of the 10th.

In the bottom of the 10th, Patton, who had retired the first six batters he faced, gave up a leadoff single to Mike Massaro who hit a hot smash to third. Patton then tried a pick-off throw to first, but the throw went wide of the bag and allowed Massaro to take second. Following a strikeout of Jermaine Mitchell, Matt Sulentic singled to center. On the play at the plate, Massaro slid to avoid the tag of the catcher McKenry. McKenry missed the tag, but Massaro missed the plate, and in the scramble to get back to the dish, Massaro was tagged out for the inning's second out. Gilbert, however, the very next batter, knocked a ground ball single to left, scoring Sulentic ahead of the throw and securing a walk-off win at Banner Island Ballpark.

Lansford picked up the win for Stockton after two scoreless innings. Patton, who gave up the game-winning single, took the loss for Modesto. With his single in the 10th, Sulentic has now reached base in 26 consecutive games.

The Ports and Nuts will play Game 2 of their four game set on Tuesday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Henry Rodriguez (2-2, 3.13 ERA) will head to the hill for the Ports, opposed by right-hander Jhoulys Chacin (0-0, 0.00 ERA), who makes his High-A debut for Modesto. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.

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California League Stories from July 1, 2008


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