CalL1 Stockton Ports

Mercedes Plays Nine Positions in 8-3 Ports Win

Published on September 4, 2016 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


For the Stockton Ports, Saturday night's contest began and ended with Melvin Mercedes. Mercedes, Stockton's utilityman extraordinaire, played all nine positions, scored the first run of the game and recorded the final out on the mound in an 8-3 Ports win over the Bakersfield Blaze at Banner Island Ballpark. For Mercedes, it marked the first time as a professional that he'd played first base and catcher and it was his third appearance on the mound this season.

Stockton opened the scoring in the first as Mercedes and Arismendy Alcantara hit back-to-back doubles off Blaze starter Eddie Campbell (11-9) to give the Ports the initial lead. Bakersfield tied the game in the second facing Henderson Alvarez, who started the game on a Major League rehab assignment. Alvarez gave up back-to-back singles to open the inning and with one out, surrendered an RBI single to Justin Seager that tied the game at 1-1.

Alvarez pitched two full innings and allowed one run on five hits. He did not walk a batter nor did he record a strikeout. He threw 32 pitches, 18 for strikes.

The Ports grabbed the lead for good in the bottom of the second and took advantage of two Blaze fielding errors. After a single and a walk started the inning, Iolana Akau singled to center to score Mikey White and give the Ports a 2-1 lead. With runners at the corners, Seth Brown hit a line drive to right that was missed by right fielder Chantz Mack, a sacrifice E-9 that allowed Sandber Pimentel to score, Akau to reach third and Brown to reach second. After Mercedes drew a walk to load the bases, Alcantara hit a double-play ball to shortstop that was missed by Jordan Cowan, an error that allowed two more runs to score and make it a 5-1 ballgame.

The runs in the second inning were the last allowed by Campbell, who suffered the loss after going four innings and allowing five runs (three earned) on four hits while striking out two.

Grant Holmes (11-7) took over for Alvarez in the third and, after walking Mack, had Jay Baum reach on a fielding error that put two aboard. Petty would then hit an RBI single to left to cut the Ports lead to 5-2. After Joe DeCarlo walked to load the bases, Holmes recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning and avoid further damage.

Bakersfield pulled to within two runs in the sixth inning. With one out, Seager singled and scored three batters later no an RBI single by Gianfranco Wawoe to make it a 5-3 game.

Holmes pitched into the seventh and left with a runner at second and two outs. Matt Sergey came on in relief and got Braden Bishop to ground out to end the inning. Holmes earned the win in his final start of the year, going 4.2 innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits while walking four and striking out seven.

Spencer Herrmann came on to pitch the fifth out of the bullpen for the Blaze and tossed two scoreless frames while pitching around three hits. Art Warren took over in the seventh and set the side down in order in his first inning of work. Warren pitched into the eighth and Stockton would plate three insurance runs. With one out, Jose Brizuela walked, Akau doubled and Brown delivered a two-run single to left to give the Ports a 7-3 cushion. With two outs, Alcantara added a double to right to make it an 8-3 game.

Warren allowed three runs on three hits in his two innings of relief.

After Sergey pitched a scoreless eighth, Mercedes took the mound in the ninth to complete the feat of playing all nine positions. Mercedes struck out Mack to open the frame and then walked Baum. With one on and one out, Mercedes struck out Petty for the second out and got DeCarlo to foul out to the catcher Akau to end the ballgame.

Mercedes' night started at third base. From there, he moved to shortstop, second base, first base, catcher, left field, center field, right field and pitcher.

The Ports and Blaze play the third game of their four-game series on Sunday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Brett Graves (7-10, 4.60 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Bakersfield left-hander Tyler Pike (6-5, 4.18 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:10 p.m. PDT. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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California League Stories from September 4, 2016


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