CalL1 Stockton Ports

Late Runs Lift Ports to Fourth Straight Win

Published on August 13, 2015 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


MODESTO, Calif. - After a tough start to the month of August, the Stockton Ports won their fourth straight game on Wednesday night at John Thurman Field. Stockton plated two runs in the top of the eighth to break a 2-2 tie and go on to a 4-2 victory, handing the Modesto Nuts their sixth consecutive loss in the process.

The Ports scored the first run of the contest in the second inning and it was unearned for Nuts starter Konner Wade. With runners at first and second and one out, third baseman Ryan McMahon fielded a potential double-play ball hit by Trent Gilbert and had the ball slip out of his hand. With the bases loaded and one out, Michael Soto delivered a sac-fly to right to give the Ports a 1-0 lead.

Modesto took its first lead in the bottom of the third. After Ports starter Raul Alcantara retired the first six batters he faced, he gave up a leadoff double to Correlle Prime to begin the third. Two batters later, Emerson Jimenez tied the game with an RBI single to right. Two batters later with two outs, Michael Benjamin gave the Nuts the lead with a triple to left-center to make it a 2-1 ballgame.

The two runs in the third were the only runs allowed by Alcantara, who set the side down in order in three of his four frames worked. He would receive a no-decision, allowing two runs on three hits while walking one and striking out three.

Stockton's offense was kept quiet by Wade innings three through six as he yielded only one hit in that span. In the seventh, however, the Ports came through with the tying run. B.J Boyd led off and drew a walk. After a sacrifice bunt and a groundout put Boyd at third base with two outs, Melvin Mercedes plated Boyd on an infield single to tie the game at 2-2. It was the final run allowed by Wade who also received a no-decision, going seven innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits while walking four and striking out three.

Rayan Gonzalez (1-3) came on in relief for the Nuts to pitch the top of the eighth and gave up an infield single to Yairo Munoz to open the frame. Jake Nottingham came up next and struck out, but on the third strike the pitch bounced in the dirt and to the backstop, allowing Munoz to get to second base. Tyler Marincov came up next and delivered an RBI single to center that broke the tie and gave Stockton a 3-2 lead. Marincov would go on to steal second and score on an ensuing single by Boyd to give the Ports a 4-2 cushion.

Gonzalez would suffer the loss for Modesto, allowing two runs on three hits in his lone inning of work.

Sam Bragg (7-2), who came on in the fifth in relief of Alcantara, would pitch three scoreless innings and allow one hit while striking out four in picking up the victory.

Ben Bracewell (SV, 4) came on to pitch the ninth and gave up a leadoff single to Benjamin. Two batters later, Ryan McMahon singled to put two on with one out. Bracewell, though, would go on to get Drew Weeks and Ashley Graeter to fly out to center to end the ballgame and notch his fourth save of the season.

Ports pitching set the side down in order in six of the nine innings on the night and faced the minimum in seven of the nine frames.

Tyler Ladendorf played his first game with Stockton on a Major League rehab assignment and played shortstop all nine innings, going 0-for-5 at the plate with two strikeouts.

The Ports and Nuts close out their three-game series on Thursday night at John Thurman Field. Kyle Finnegan (6-7, 6.09 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Modesto left-hander Kyle Freeland (0-0, 2.00 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.

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California League Stories from August 13, 2015


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