Late Runs Doom Ports in 4-3 Loss to Nuts
Published on August 11, 2016 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
MODESTO, Calif. - After committing five errors in their series opener with the Modesto Nuts on Tuesday night, the Stockton Ports were bedeviled by their defense again on Wednesday at John Thurman Field. Stockton committed a pair of errors, including one in the eighth that led to the go-ahead run crossing home plate for Modesto as the Nuts defeated the Ports by a final of 4-3 to secure a series victory.
Modesto scored the first runs of the game in the bottom of the second. Shane Hoelscher opened the inning with a single and Ryan Stephens was hit by a pitch. After a passed ball advanced the runners into scoring position, Dom Nunez provided a sac-fly to left to give the Nuts a 1-0 lead. Drew Weeks followed with a triple to right-center that scored Stephens and made it a 2-0 Modesto lead.
The two second inning runs were the only runs allowed by Ports starter Casey Meisner, who left the game with a chance to pick up his first win of the year but was rendered a no-decision despite a strong performance. He went five innings and allowed two runs on four hits while striking out a season-high eight, including five consecutive batters in the midst of eight-in-a-row set down to finish his outing.
The Ports were without a hit through the first four innings as Nuts starter Ryan Castellani faced the minimum in that span. After Castellani recorded the first out of the fifth inning, John Nogowski got the Ports their first hit with a single to right-center field that was lost in the lights. Mikey White followed with a double to the left field corner that put runners at second and third. Seth Brown came up next and drove in Stockton's first run with an RBI single to left. With runners at the corners and one out, Castellani got Richie Martin to pop out to second base. Iolana Akau came up next and reached on a fielding error committed by the third baseman Josh Fuentes that allowed White to score and tie the game at 2-2. James Harris followed with an RBI single to center to give the Ports a 3-2 advantage.
Of the three runs scored by Stockton in the fifth, two were unearned for Castellani who was also rendered a no-decision after going seven innings and allowing six hits while striking out three. Castellani did not allow a hit in five of the seven innings in which he worked.
Modesto pushed the tying run across in the seventh facing Ports reliever Evan Manarino (0-1). Weeks opened the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Colin Ferguson. After Weeks advanced to third on a passed ball, Manarino struck out Emerson Jimenez for the second out of the inning but then allowed a two-out single on an 0-2 pitch to Wes Rogers that tied the game at 3-3.
The Nuts would take advantage of the second Stockton error of the night to plate the go-ahead run in the eighth. Josh Fuentes reached on a throwing error committed by third baseman Melvin Mercedes to start the inning. After a sacrifice bunt advanced Fuentes to second. Ryan Stephens reached on an infield single that put runners at the corners and Nunez provided a sac-fly to center to score Fuentes and give Modesto a 4-3 advantage.
Manarino would suffer the loss despite not allowing an earned run on the night. Manarino allowed two unearned runs on three hits while striking out one in three innings of relief.
Modesto's pitching staff, beginning with the final four outs recorded by Castellani, would combine to retire 10 consecutive batters to close out the ballgame. Logan Cozart (1-4) set the side down in order in the eighth and Luis Niebla (SV, 10) did the same in the ninth. Cozart picked up his first win of the season while Niebla notched his 10th save in as many chances.
The Ports and Nuts wrap up their season series on Thursday night at John Thurman Field. Grant Holmes (8-5, 4.20 ERA) makes his second start with Stockton since being traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He'll be opposed by Modesto right-hander Christian Talley (0-0, 0.00 ERA) who is scheduled to make his California League debut. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
California League Stories from August 11, 2016
- Quakes and Dodgers Extend Affiliation Through 2018 - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Giants Earn Series Win over High Desert - San Jose Giants
- Bakersfield Strikes out 18 in 1-0 Win over Visalia - Visalia Rawhide
- Offense Breaks out to Even Series against Storm - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Houchins, Nuss Pace 66ers to Win - Inland Empire 66ers
- Giants Silenced by Mavericks in 3-1 Loss - San Jose Giants
- Late Runs Doom Ports in 4-3 Loss to Nuts - Stockton Ports
- Timely Offense Secures Third Straight Win - Modesto Nuts
- Bakersfield Arms Turn Visalia Bats Raw - Bakersfield Blaze
- Jethawks Bats Go Quiet In 4-2 Loss To 66ers - Lancaster JetHawks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
