Late Homer Sinks Ports in 3-2 Loss to Nuts
July 30, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
STOCKTON, Calif. - The Modesto Nuts completed a three-game sweep of the Stockton Ports on Wednesday night, and all three games followed a similar pattern. Stockton scored first in all three contests and the Ports bullpen failed to hold on to late leads. ON Wednesday night, it was Michael Benjamin, Jr. who hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to catapult the Nuts to a 3-2 lead and ultimately the win and the series sweep.
Stockton's first run of the game came in the third and was the by-product of a rare walk issued by Nuts starter Antonio Senzatela. Jake Nottingham walked with two outs and scored on an ensuing triple to center field by Matt Chapman to give the Ports a 1-0 lead.
Modesto tied the game in the ensuing half inning. Ports starter Dylan Covey issued a leadoff walk to Dillon Thomas, who scored on a two-out RBI single by Wilfredo Rodriguez to tie the game at 1-1. It was the only run allowed by Covey, who went six strong innings and allowed three hits while walking one and striking out four.
The Ports plated one more run off Senzatela in the sixth. With one out, Chapman hit his 22nd home run of the season out to left field to give Stockton a 2-1 lead. Senzatela would be lifted later that inning and receive a no-decision, going 5.2 innings and allowing two runs on six hits while striking out six.
Taylor Thompson (0-2), who took over in the seventh on his fourth Major League rehab appearance with Stockton, pitched around a two-out double by Correlle Prime in his first inning of work. Thompson returned for the eighth and gave up a one-out single to Raimel Tapia, followed by a two-run homer to Benjamin out to left field that gave the Nuts a 3-2 lead.
Thompson suffered the loss after going two innings and allowing two runs on three hits while striking out two. He threw 30 pitches, 18 for strikes.
Devin Burke (2-1) took over for Senzatela in the sixth and went on to pitch 2.1 scoreless innings and received the win, retiring seven of the eight batters he faced while striking out one.
Matt Carasiti (SV, 14) came on to pitch the ninth and set the side down in order while recording two strikeouts, picking up his 14th save of the season and his second in as many nights.
Ben Bracewell pitched a perfect ninth and recorded two strikeouts for Stockton.
The Ports head out on the road to begin a seven-game road trip on Thursday, beginning with a four-game series at San Jose. Left-hander Matt Stalcup (1-1, 3.89 ERA) makes the start for the Ports in the series opener, opposed by Giants right-hander Jason Forjet (3-3, 3.58 ERA). First pitch at Municipal Stadium is set for 7 p.m. PDT.
California League Stories from July 30, 2015
- Lake Elsinore Storm Set for Jam-Packed Final Month - Lake Elsinore Storm
- Giants, Ports Meet In Four-Game Series At Muni - San Jose Giants
- Late Homer Sinks Ports in 3-2 Loss to Nuts - Stockton Ports
- Giants Drop 11-Inning Heartbreaker to Rawhide - San Jose Giants
- Mavs Roll Blaze in Homestand Finale, 10-3 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Benjamin Propels Nuts to 3-2 Victory - Modesto Nuts
- Clutch Hits Lead Lancaster to Series Win - Lancaster JetHawks
- Nuts Are Streaking - Modesto Nuts
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