JetHawks Pitching Grounds Ports in 6-1 Loss
July 24, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
LANCASTER, Calif. - In a day that saw two former Lancaster JetHawks get traded and join the Stockton Ports roster, the Ports had no answer for JetHawks pitching on Thursday night. Following the trades of Jake Nottingham and Daniel Mengden in exchange for Oakland A's right-hander Scott Kazmir, Stockton mustered just three hits in a 6-1 loss to Lancaster to kick off a four-game series at The Hangar.
Stockton scored the game's first run without the benefit of a hit in the third inning. B.J. Boyd led off and was hit by a pitch. With Boyd at second base and one out, Brett Vertigan reached on a fielding error that put runners at first and second. Branden Cogswell followed and reached on a two-base fielding error committed by first baseman Chase McDonald that allowed Boyd to score and give Stockton a 1-0 lead. Tyler Marincov came up next and hit a ground ball to third on which J.D. Davis threw home for a tag out of Vertigan.
The run was unearned and the only run allowed by JetHawks starter Keegan Yuhl, who would receive a no-decision, going five innings and allowing three hits while striking out six.
Stockton would get back-to-back singles from Boyd and Beau Taylor in the fourth. Beginning with Melvin Mercedes' groundout following those hits, JetHawks pitching went on to retire 16 of the final 17 Ports batters to close out the game. Stockton had no hits after the fourth inning and only one baserunner in that span who reached on an error with one out in the ninth.
Ports starter Chris Lamb pitched around three-hits allowed through four innings and did not allow a run during his outing. Lamb completed four frames and walked one and struck out three while receiving a no-decision.
Pat Venditte took over in the fifth in his first appearance with Stockton on a Major League rehab assignment. Venditte, pitching exclusively right-hander, was greeted by a home run hit by Ronnie Mitchell that tied the game at 1-1. It was the only run allowed by Venditte who completed the fifth inning, allowing two hits while not recording a walk or a strikeout. He threw 16 pitches, 10 for strikes.
Lancaster took the game over in the sixth facing Taylor Thompson (0-1), also on a Major League rehab assignment. Thompson allowed an infield single and a walk to open the inning. McDonald came up with runners at first and second and hit a ball off of the center field fence, scoring just the lead runner as the runner at second, Jamie Ritchie, got a poor read on the ball and was forced to hold at second and thus McDonald at first. After a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout, Thompson had runners at second and third with two away but walked Mitchell to load the bases, ending his outing. Sam Roberts entered the game and surrendered a bases-clearing double to Mott Hyde that took the JetHawks lead to 5-1.
Thompson suffered the loss in his second rehab outing, going two-thirds of an inning and allowing four runs on two hits while walking two and striking out one. He threw 24 pitches, 10 for strikes.
Lancaster added to its lead one final time in the seventh as Ritchie hit a solo homer off Roberts with two outs to make it 6-1. It was the only run allowed by Roberts in an inning of relief.
Trevor Bayless pitch the final inning-and-a-third scoreless for Stockton.
Bryan Radziewski (3-3), who entered the game to begin the sixth inning, retired the first 10 batters he faced and 12 of the 13 to close out the ballgame. He picked up the win, going four scoreless innings without allowing a hit while striking out three.
After seeing their four-game win streak snapped, the Ports will play the JetHawks in the second game of their four-game set on Friday night at The Hangar. Left-hander Matt Stalcup (1-1, 3.83 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Lancaster right-hander Francis Martes (0-0, 0.00 ERA), who makes his California League debut for the JetHawks. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. PDT.
California League Stories from July 24, 2015
- Christmas in July Set for Monday, July 27 - Lancaster JetHawks
- Giants Can't Keep up with Blaze, Fall 8-5 - San Jose Giants
- JetHawks Pitching Grounds Ports in 6-1 Loss - Stockton Ports
- Big Hits Power Blaze in 8-5 Win - Bakersfield Blaze
- 66ers Down Quakes in Ten on McGee's Heroics - Inland Empire 66ers
- Nuts Take Series Opener 4-2 in Ten Innings - Modesto Nuts
- Yuhl, Radziewski Help 'Hawks Snap Skid - Lancaster JetHawks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
