CalL1 Stockton Ports

Late Homer Sinks Ports in 7-6 Loss

Published on September 3, 2016 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


The Stockton Ports almost nursed a one-run lead to a win on Friday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Instead, Justin Seager hit a two-run homer in the top of the eighth to give the Bakersfield Blaze their first lead of the night and ultimately a 7-6 win to open a four-game series.

The Ports opened the scoring in the bottom of the first as Chris Iriart reached on an infield single with runners at the corners with two outs to plate Melvin Mercedes and give the Ports a 1-0 lead. Bakersfield knotted the score in the top of the second as Kyle Petty drew a leadoff walk and scored on a two-out RBI single by Braden Bishop.

Stockton took a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the second. Justin Higley led off the inning with a double, Argenis Raga followed with a single and Seth Brown delivered an RBI single to left to give the Ports a 2-1 lead. Mercedes followed with a bunt single to the third base side. Third baseman Jordan Cowan fielded and made an errant throw to first that allowed Raga to score and everybody else to move up a base. Mikey White came up next and grounded out to drive in Mercedes as Stockton took a four run lead.

The Blaze got a run back in the top of the third as Ray Guerrini drew a leadoff walk. Ports starter Casey Meisner would then give up a single to Cowan and, with one out, walk Chantz Mack walked to load the bases. Meisner then issued a bases-loaded walk to Petty to make it a 5-2 game.

Bakersfield tied the game and knocked Miesner from the contest in the fourth. With one out, Meisner hit Justin Seager, gave up a single to Guerrini and an ensuing single to Cowan that drove in Seager and brought the Blaze to within two. Koby Gauna came in from the Stockton bullpen and recorded a strikeout with runners at second and third. With two outs, however, Mack delivered a two-run single to left that tied the game at 5-5.

Meisner did not factor into the decision, going 3.1 innings and allowing five runs on four hits while walking four and striking out two. Gauna went on to pitch two-and-two-thirds scoreless frames.

Blaze starter Zack Littell worked into the fifth and gave up a leadoff single to Arismendy Alcantara. Later in the inning with two on and two out, Higley singled to left to score Alcantara and give the Ports a 6-5 lead. Littell would be lifted with two outs in the fifth and the bases loaded. Rafael Pineda (1-0) came on and struck out Brown to avoid further damage in the inning.

Littell allowed a season-high six runs (five earned) on seven hits while striking out five.

Pineda would go on to pitch two-and-a-third scoreless frames while allowing two hits and striking out five while earning the win in the contest.

Corey Miller (0-2) took over in the seventh and pitched around a one-out double in his first inning. In the eighth, however, Miller gave up a leadoff single to Bishop, followed by a two-run homer to Seager that vaulted the Blaze in front 7-6. Miller would suffer the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in two innings of work.

Jared Lyons pitched a scoreless ninth for Stockton.

Kody Kerski (SV, 2) took over to pitch the bottom of the ninth for the Blaze and walked Jose Brizuela to open the frame. Iriart followed and hit a fly ball to deep right field that was dropped by Wilson, an error that put runners at first and second with nobody out. Kerski would go on to strike out Higley and Sandber Pimentel back-to-back and then get Raga to hit a comebacker to the mound to end the ballgame and escape the jam. Kerski picked up his second save of the season.

The Ports and Blaze play the second game of their four-game set on Saturday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Grant Holmes (10-7, 4.73 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Bakersfield left-hander Eddie Campbell (11-8, 5.71 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 September 3, 2016


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