CalL1 Stockton Ports

Late Homer Sinks Ports in 3-2 Loss

August 18, 2018 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - In a well-pitched, well-played ballgame on Friday night at Banner Island Ballpark, Visalia Rawhide outfielder Anfernee Grier had the final say. With two outs in the top of the ninth inning, Grier delivered a solo homer to center field that broke a 2-2 tie and gave the Rawhide their first lead of the night as Visalia went on to a 3-2 victory to open a three-game series.

Stockton's only two runs of the night came in the second inning with two outs off Visalia starter Riley Smith. Santiago Chavez and Brett Siddall delivered back-to-back RBI singles to give the Ports an early 2-0 advantage. Smith would go on to survive one more tight spot with runners at the corners and one out in the sixth, but did not allow a run for the remainder of his outing. Smith did not factor into the decision, going seven innings and allowing two runs on five hits while striking out nine.

Ports starter Wyatt Marks retired 17 of the first 19 batters he faced to open his outing. Marks pitched around a one-out triple in the fifth and a one-out double and an error in the sixth to keep Visalia out of the run column through six.

Marks worked into the seventh inning and surrendered a leadoff walk to Pavin Smith, at which point he was lifted for Trey Cochran-Gill who gave up a two-run homer to Ramon Hernandez that tied the game at 2-2. Marks was charged with one of the two runs while Cochran-Gill surrendered the other. Marks would also be rendered a no-decision, going six-plus innings and allowing three hits while striking out a season-high 10, falling one shy of his career-high total. Cochran-Gill worked two innings and allowed just the one run on two hits.

Andrew Tomasovich (2-2) came on to work the ninth and opened the frame with back-to-back strikeouts. Grier came up third, however, and delivered the homer to center that broke the tie and gave the Rawhide a 3-2 lead. The homer made Tomasovich the losing pitcher in the contest, though it was the only hit he allowed.

After West Tunnell (1-0) worked a scoreless eighth, Matt Brill (SV, 4) set the side down in order in the ninth to notch his fourth save of the season.

The Ports and Rawhide now sit in a tie for first place atop the North Division standings in the second half.

Stockton and Visalia play the middle game of their three-game series on Saturday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Left-hander Zack Erwin (8-8, 5.05 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Visalia right-hander Matt Peacock (3-3, 4.61 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.

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California League Stories from August 18, 2018


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