CalL1 Stockton Ports

Late Storm Burst Sends Ports to 8-2 Loss

Published on July 28, 2018 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. - The Stockton Ports suffered their fifth consecutive loss and matched their longest losing skid of the season on Friday night at The Diamond. The Lake Elsinore Storm scored five runs in the eighth inning to salt away an 8-2 win over the Ports in the opener of a three-game series, keeping Stockton winless on its current six-game road trip.

The Ports opened the scoring in the third inning as they loaded the bases with one out and got a fielder's choice groundout off the bat of Chase Calabuig in taking a 1-0 lead. It was the only run allowed by Storm starter Michel Baez who would be rendered a no-decision after going five innigns and allowing five hits while striking out eight.

After Stockton squandered a bases-loaded opportunity with one out in the fourth, Lake Elsinore scored a pair of runs in the home half of the inning to take its first lead of the night. Edward Olivares reached to start the inning on a throwing error committed by shortstop Edwin Diaz and scored on an ensuing double by Eguy Rosario that tied the game at 1-1. Rosario, who wound up at third base on a throw that came home, would score on a groundout by Hudson Potts to give the Storm a 2-1 advantage.

Cody Tyler (2-1) took over for Baez in the sixth inning and gave up a leadoff single to Sandber Pimentel, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Pimentel would score following back-to-back one-out singles by Brett Siddall and Trace Loehr with Loehr picking up the RBI that tied the game at 2-2.

Lake Elsinore fired back in the bottom of the sixth and took advantage of a Stockton miscue to take the lead for good. With a runner at first and one out, Luis Torrens hit a double-play ball to Diaz at shortstop. Diaz fielded, stepped on second base for the first out and threw to first, but Pimentel dropped the ball to allow the inning to continue and Torrens to reach second base. Jorge Ona made the Ports pay with a double to left field that scored Torrens and gave the Storm a 3-2 advantage.

Ports starter Matt Milburn (6-4) would suffer the loss, going seven innings and allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out five.

Tyler, who pitched just the sixth inning, picked up the win for the Storm.

Sam Sheehan took over for Milburn to start the eighth and walked Olivares, who then stole second. After a groundout advanced Olivares to third, he would score on a wild pitch to make it 4-2. Sheehan would then walk Potts and be lifted for Andrew Tomasovich, who gave up a double to Torrens to put runners at second and third. After an intentional walk issued to Ona, Tomasovich uncorked a wild pitch that allowed a fifth run to score. Brad Zunica drew a walk to reload the bases and Ruddy Giron doubled to right field to score two more runs and make it 7-2. Nate Easley completed the scoring with a sac-fly to left to run the Storm lead to 8-2.

Sheehan allowed two runs in a third of an inning. Tomasovich would surrender three runs in two-thirds of an inning.

David Bednar (SV, 7), who came on in the seventh, held the Ports scoreless for the final three innings to pick up the save. The Ports hit into inning-ending double-plays in each of the last four frames of the contest.

The Ports and Storm play the middle game of their three-game set on Saturday night at The Diamond. Left-hander Zack Erwin (7-8, 5.26 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Lake Elsinore right-hander Ronald Bolanos (4-6, 4.65 ERA). First pitch is set for 6 p.m. PDT.

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California League Stories from July 28, 2018


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