Grizzlies Take 3-2 Lead in Convincing Fashion Going into Finale
June 29, 2025 - California League (CalL)
Stockton Ports News Release
FRESNO, Calif. - Game Five got away from the Ports on Saturday night, as the Grizzlies piled on for an 11-0 victory that gave them a 3-2 lead in the six-game series with the finale coming up Sunday.
Starter Sam Stuhr was coming off his best outing of the series going into Saturday's contest, but had one of his roughest appearances since his first start of the season. He allowed two home runs in a game for the first time since that start on April 13 where he lasted just 2.2 innings against the Quakes. Stuhr did get into the fifth inning on Saturday but would allow nine runs on 12 hits with one walk and one strikeout.
The Grizzlies struck for two runs in the second inning on an Alan Espinal's second home run of the season, and three more in the third on Kevin Fitzer's third homer of the year along with a sac fly and an RBI single to go up 5-0 after three innings.
Fresno would break through for five more in the fifth and chase Stuhr after four more hits and a sac fly. Felix Castro checked in and allowed and infield single and a triple to plate two more and the Grizzlies were up 10-0 after the dust had settled in the fifth.
Stockton would get stuck on four hits in the game and ground into four double plays that killed rallies before they could get started.
UP NEXT: Fresno will start RHP Marcos Herrera (4-4, 4.10) versus the Ports Jose Dicochea (3-6, 5.95) for a 5:05 PM scheduled first pitch in the series finales.
Single game tickets, mini plans, and group outings are all on sale for the 2025 season. For more information, call the Ports front office at 209-644-1900 or email at info@stocktonports.com.
when the Stockton ballclub won the independent California League's inaugural championship. That same summer, Ernest Thayer reportedly drew the inspiration for his famous poem "Casey at the Bat" at a Stockton home game, which were played on the same site as present-day Banner Island Ballpark.
The current era in Stockton's professional baseball history began in 1941 with the Stockton Fliers, a charter member of the California League. After a four-season hiatus during World War II from 1942-45, the franchise returned in 1946 with a new nickname: the Stockton Ports, a nod to the city's massive seaport - the biggest inland port in the state of California and the hub of transport and commerce in the San Joaquin Valley.
Upon its return in 1946, the California League also re-established itself with teams in Stockton, Bakersfield, Fresno, Modesto, Santa Barbara and Visalia. Today, the Ports are a part of an eight-team league with teams in Modesto, San Jose, Visalia, Fresno, San Bernardino (Inland Empire), Lake Elsinore and Rancho Cucamonga.
The Ports disbanded after the 1972 season, but returned in 1978 as the Stockton Mariners, only to change their name back to the Ports in 1979. The franchise underwent two more temporary name changes, as the Stockton Mudville Nine from 1982-84 and the Mudville Nine in 2000 and 2001 but have remained the Ports since 2002.
Despite the name changes, the Ports have enjoyed plenty of success since the franchise's inception in 1941. The Ports have made the postseason 42 times in 70 seasons and their 11 California League Championships are tied for the most by any club (with Fresno as the Cardinals & Giants). The Ports also own the longest winning streak in league history, prevailing in 26 straight games in 1947.
During the 1980's and early 90's, Stockton enjoyed a particularly dominant stretch. In the 13 -year stretch from 1980-92, the Ports captured four California League titles, and their 977 wins were most by any team in Minor League Baseball.
The Ports' California League Championships have come in 1946, 1947, 1963, 1965, 1969, 1980, 1986, 1990, 1992, 2002, and 2008.
With a 3-1 win over the San Jose Giants on June 6, 2018, the Ports became the first team in California League history to reach the 5,000-win plateau.
California League Stories from June 29, 2025
- Grizzlies Take 3-2 Lead in Convincing Fashion Going into Finale - Stockton Ports
- Grizzlies Take 3-2 Lead in Convincing Fashion Going into Finale - Stockton Ports
- Power and Double Plays on Display in Grizzlies' Route of Ports - Fresno Grizzlies
- Giants Down Quakes on Saturday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
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