CalL1 Stockton Ports

Homers Help Nuts Past Ports 10-7

Published on July 18, 2016 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports came back from a four-run deficit on Sunday night, but the Modesto Nuts had too much muscle at Banner Island Ballpark. The Nuts hit three homers, including a pair of multi-run shots in a five-run second inning on their way to a 10-7 win over the Ports to take the first two games of a four-game set.

Stockton opened the scoring in the first inning as Melvin Mercedes drew a leadoff walk and scored on a two-out RBI single by Joe Bennie to give the Ports a 1-0 lead.

Modesto would counter with five runs on a pair of homers off Ports starter Brett Graves (4-8) in the second. Josh Fuentes led off and was hit by a pitch and Drew Weeks followed with a two-run homer. Later in the inning with two on and two out, Omar Carrizales hit a three-run homer to right to give the Nuts a 5-1 advantage.

The Ports would score runs over the next three innings to tie the score. Seth Brown hit a one-out single to center and scored on an ensuing double by Argenis Raga in the second to make it 5-2. James Harris reached on an error committed by Collin Ferguson in the third and scored two batters later on a throwing error committed by shortstop Luis Jean to pull the Ports to within two at 5-3. IN the fourth. Mikey White led off with a double and scored two batters later on an RBI groundout by Raga. Jose Brizuela followed with a solo homer to right field to tie the game at 5-5.

Nuts starter Helmis Rodriguez gave up the first five Stockton runs and received a no-decision, allowing five hits while striking out four.

Graves started the sixth by giving up back-to-back singles to Weeks and Dom Nunez that put runners at the corners. Graves was then lifted for Corey Miller, who gave up an RBI single to Shane Hoelscher to give the Nuts a 6-5 lead. A run would score later in the inning on a wild pitch to make it 7-5.

Both runs in the inning were charged to Graves who went on to suffer the loss after allowing seven runs on six hits over five-plus innings.

Zack Erwin took over in the seventh and gave up a one-out solo homer to Fuentes that made it an 8-5 Nuts advantage.

The Ports pulled to within a run in the eighth on a two-run homer with one out hit by White to trim the Nuts lead to 8-7. Those were the only runs allowed by Nuts reliever Logan Cozart and the only runs allowed by the Modesto bullpen.

Modesto plated two insurance runs in the ninth. Carrizales led off with a walk and, two batters later with one out, Erwin was lifted for Carlos Navas. Navas gave up a single to Wes Rogers and two batters later yielded a two-run ground rule double to Weeks that made it a 10-7 Modesto lead.

Erwin allowed two runs on two hits in two-and-a-third innings. Navas allowed one run in two-thirds of an inning of relief.

Luis Niebla pitched a scoreless ninth for Modesto. Troy Neiman (3-3) earned the win for the Nuts, going three innings and retiring nine of the 11 batters he faced.

The Ports and Nuts play the third game of their four-game set on Monday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Kyle Friedrichs (3-1, 3.73 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Modesto left-hander Jack Wynkoop (2-1, 3.42 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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California League Stories from July 18, 2016


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