Late Run Sends Ports to 3-2 Loss
August 12, 2018 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports outhit the San Jose Giants on Saturday night, but it was the Giants who edged the Ports in the run column. San Jose broke a 2-2 tie with a run in the top of the ninth inning on its way to a 3-2 win over the Ports to even up their three-game series and set up a rubber game on Sunday.
The Giants scored the first two runs of the contest on one swing of the bat in the top of the first. With one on and one out, Heath Quinn hit a two-run homer to right that gave San Jose a 2-0 lead. Those were the only runs allowed by Ports starter Zack Erwin who did not work a clean inning in his six innings but held the Giants to just the two runs. Erwin delivered a strong outing but did not factor into the decision, going six innings and allowing eight hits while striking out five.
San Jose starter Domenic Mazza gave up five straight singles with one out in the second, but on the third single hit by Eric Marinez, Brett Siddall was thrown out at the plate by left fielder Johneshwy Fargas. Cobie Vance came up next and singled to right to score Santiago Chavez and make it a 2-1 game. After Chase Calabuig reached on an infield single to load the bases, Mazza struck out Viosergy Rosa to end the inning and escape further trouble.
Mazza did not endure a serious threat after the second inning as he went on to pitch six innings and was rendered a no-decision, allowing nine hits while striking out six.
Stockton came up with the tying run in the bottom of the seventh facing Giants reliever Nolan Riggs (5-5). Vance led off the inning with a single and scored on a two-out single by Luke Persico that hit off the shoe of Riggs and caromed into left field.
The game remained tied at 2-2 heading into the ninth as Will Gilbert (4-3) took over for Stockton following two scoreless innings worked by Brendan Butler. Gilbert gave up a leadoff single to Tanner Murphy and then went to field an ensuing sacrifice bunt by Bryce Johnson but threw the ball away into first-base foul territory. The error put runners at the corners with nobody out and set up Jalen Miller for an RBI single that put the Giants in front 3-2. It was the only run allowed by Gilbert as he notched back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning and keep it a one-run deficit.
Frank Rubio (SV, 8) took over in the ninth for the Giants and set the side down in order, ending the game with a strikeout of Rosa to earn his eighth save of the season. Riggs, who'd pitched the two innings prior, picked up the win for San Jose.
The Ports and Giants play the rubber game of their three-game series on Sunday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Kyle Friedrichs (1-2, 4.61 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by San Jose right-hander Carlos Sano (3-3, 3.62 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:10 p.m. PDT.
California League Stories from August 12, 2018
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