Late Rally Falls Short as Ports Swept in Fresno
April 10, 2022 - California League (CalL)
Stockton Ports News Release
FRESNO, Ca. - The Fresno Grizzlies clubbed two home runs and the Ports went just 4-for-16 with runners in scoring position as Stockton fell 6-5 in the series finale at Chukchansi Park in downtown Fresno on Sunday afternoon, suffering a season-opening three game sweep at the hands of their Northern Division rivals.
The Ports (0-3) got off to good start in the first two innings but failed to score in each frame against Grizzlies starter Mason Green. Nick Brueser led off the game with a double in the top of the first and Max Muncy followed with a walk, but Green wriggled free of the jam with a strikeout and two flyouts to keep the Ports off the board.
Pedro Pineda reached on a leadoff walk in the second and advanced to third with nobody out after a stolen base and throwing error by Fresno catcher Hunter Goodman. But again Green kept the Ports from breaking through by striking out the side to strand Pineda at third base.
Trailing 1-0 after the Grizzlies (3-0) took the lead on a sacrifice fly in the second, the Ports broke through against the Fresno southpaw with three runs in the top of the third. Brueser led off with his second double in as many at bats and after Muncy drew a walk to put runners on first and second, Danny Bautista singled up the middle to tie the game at one. Two batters later Kevin Richards then drove a double off the wall in left center to give the Ports their first lead at 3-1.
With Stockton's advantage trimmed to 3-2 going into the bottom of the fifth, the Grizzlies took the lead for good with a four-run rally. Braiden Ward singled to lead off the frame against Ports' starter Blake Beers and advanced to second when Benny Montgomery walked. Juan Brito then blasted a three-run homer down the right field line to give Fresno a 5-3 lead.
After Beers retired the next two hitters, Luis Carrasco came out of the Ports bullpen with two outs and nobody on and was greeted by a Hunter Goodman single that snuck under the glove of Pedro Pineda in center field, allowing Goodman to reach second base. EJ Andrews, Jr. then reached on a fielding error by Brueser at first base that allowed Goodman to score an unearned run, extending the Grizzly lead to 6-3.
The Ports battled back with single runs in the sixth and seventh. Clarke roped a leadoff double to left center leading off the sixth and scored when Mariano Ricciardi lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 6-4.
Clarke then come through with two outs in the seventh, lining an RBI single to right center to score CJ Rodriguez who walked to lead off the inning to cut the Fresno lead to just one.
The Ports, though, would manage just one baserunner the rest of the way: a one out walk to Brueser in the eighth.
Noah Gotsis (1-0) got the win for Fresno with 2.1 innings of one run ball in relief of Green, while Beers (0-1) took the loss for the Ports allowing five runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings in his first start of 2022. Juan Mejia picked up his first save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth.
The Ports will look to get back on track when they return home for their home opener on Tuesday night at Banner Island Ballpark for a 7:05 first pitch against the Modesto Nuts in the first of a six-game series. Tickets are available at stocktonports.com, by calling (209) 644-1900 or by stopping by the Ports ticket office at Banner Island Ballpark.
California League Stories from April 10, 2022
- Quakes Fall 5-4 in 13-Inning Thriller - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Spring Cleaning: Fresno Sweeps Stockton 6-5 on Sunday - Fresno Grizzlies
- Late Rally Falls Short as Ports Swept in Fresno - Stockton Ports
- Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes vs Stockton - Fresno Grizzlies
- Rawhide Take First Loss of the Season - Visalia Rawhide
- Offense Explodes in Quakes First 2022 Win - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Giants Secure First Win, Even Series in Modesto - San Jose Giants
- Grizzlies Explode Late as Ports Toppled in Fresno - Stockton Ports
- Smooth sailing for Grizzlies in 16-4 triumph over Ports - Fresno Grizzlies
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