CalL1 Stockton Ports

Mavs Surge Late, Down Ports 8-3

August 26, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


ADELANTO, Calif. - The Stockton Ports took a 2-1 lead into the sixth inning on Tuesday night in Adelanto, but saw seven of the final eight runs scored against them. The High Desert Mavericks clinched a playoff spot with an 8-3 win over Stockton as the Ports dropped into a tie with the San Jose Giants for the lead in the Wild Card standings.

For a second straight night the Ports scored in the top of the first inning. Melvin Mercedes doubled to left field with one out and scored two batters later on a two-out RBI single by Jake Nottingham to give the Ports a 1-0 lead. High Desert countered in the bottom of the inning on a two-out RBI single by Royce Bollinger to knot the game at 1-1.

Both starting pitchers settled into grooves after the first. Ports starter Casey Meisner, after allowing a leadoff single in the second, went on to retire the final 12 batters he faced and would receive a no-decision, going five innings and allowing one run on three hits while striking out five.

Mavericks starter Trey Lambert (8-3), after keeping the Ports out of the run column innings two through five, gave up a run in the sixth. Brett Vertigan singled to open the inning and scored on a two-out single by Nottingham to give Stockton a 2-1 lead.

High Desert fired back with its biggest inning of the night in the sixth. Lou Trivino (9-5) came on in relief of Meisner and gave up a one-out single to Isiah Kiner-Falefa followed by a walk to Joe Jackson. Bollinger came up next and delivered an RBI single to center that tied the game at 2-2. Ronald Guzman followed with an RBI double that gave the Mavericks a 3-2 lead. After Kevin Torres was intentionally walked to load the bases, Alberto Triunfel hit a bouncer to third that was fielded by Mercedes, who threw home to try for the force-out. Mercedes' throw sailed high and to the backstop, allowing two runs to score and making it a 5-2 High Desert lead. Tripp Martin followed with a sac-fly to right that ran the Mavericks lead to 6-2.

Trivino suffered the loss, going one inning and allowing five runs (two earned) on three hits while walking two and striking out one.

Stockton loaded the bases with one out on three singles in the top of the seventh, but Lambert escaped the jam unscathed to finish his outing. He went on to earn the win, going seven innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits while striking out a season-high eight.

High Desert added to its lead in the bottom of the seventh as they scored two runs off Ports reliever Carlos Navas on RBI doubles by Jackson and Guzman to balloon their lead to 8-2.

Pat Kamiska took over for the Mavericks in the eighth and surrendered a one-out double to Nottingham, who scored two batters later on an RBI single by B.J. Boyd to make it an 8-3 contest. It'd be the only run allowed by Kamiska in two innings of relief as he went on to pitch a perfect ninth inning to close out the ballgame.

The Ports and Mavericks play the third game of their four-game set on Wednesday night at Mavericks Stadium. Daniel Mengden (5-3, 4.61 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by High Desert right-hander Dallas Gallant (0-0, 3.95 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.

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California League Stories from August 26, 2015


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