Muncy's Slam Sends Ports to 6-3 Victory
Published on June 2, 2013 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. - It'd been exactly one month since Max Muncy hit a home run going into Sunday afternoon's contest. Muncy's 10th home run of the season, and his first home run in over a month, decided Sunday's game at Municipal Stadium. With Stockton trailing 2-1 and about to squander a bases loaded opportunity in the eighth, Muncy homered off San Jose Giants reliever Jacob Dunnington to give the Ports a 5-2 lead and ultimately a 6-3 win. With the victory, Stockton takes three of four in their series at San Jose and moves to within four games of the Giants for first place in the North Division.
In a game that began as a pitcher's duel, San Jose starter Ty Blach (6-2) opened his afternoon by setting down the first 14 batters that he faced. Rashun Dixon broke up the streak with two outs in the fifth with a double to center.
Ports starter Drew Granier (6-3) kept San Jose out of the run column over the first three innings, pitching around a pair of baserunners in the first and a leadoff double in the third. The Giants broke the ice in the fourth on a two-out, two-run homer by Devin Harris, just the fourth home run allowed by Granier on the season.
Stockton's offense, after being silenced through five innings, showed signs of life in the sixth. With two outs and the bases empty, Bobby Crocker doubled to right and Addison Russell followed with a double to right-center that cut Stockton's deficit in half at 2-1.
Blach set the side down in order in the seventh and came out to pitch the eighth. B.A. Vollmuth opened the eighth with a single to left and Phil Pohl followed with a double down the line. Myrio Richard drew a walk that loaded the bases and knocked Blach from the game. Dunnington came on from the bullpen and got Crocker to strike out, Russell to pop to second and seemed primed to shut the door on Stockton's opportunity. Muncy, though, came to the plate and hit the first pitch over the right-center field fence. The grand slam gave the Ports a 5-2 lead, their first lead of the contest.
Three of the four runs that came in on the grand slam were charged to Blach, who took the loss after going seven-plus innings and allowing four runs on five hits while striking out four. The grand slam was the only hit allowed by Dunnington in his lone inning of work.
Granier pitched around a bases-loaded jam after walking three in the sixth inning and set the side down in order in the seventh to complete his outing. Granier picked up the win after going seven innings and allowing two runs on four hits while walking four and striking out three.
Seth Frankoff pitched a scoreless eighth for the Ports, his second scoreless outing of the series. Stephen Harrold came on to pitch the ninth for the Giants and gave up a solo home run to Dixon, his second home run in as many games, making it a 6-2 ballgame.
Jose Macias came on to finish the game in the ninth and allowed a leadoff double to Harris, who scored later in the inning on a sac-fly by Eliezer Zambrano. Macias, however, got Chris Lofton to strike out to end the ballgame.
After taking three of four from the Giants, the Ports return home to kick off a seven-game homestand as they welcome the Lancaster JetHawks to town for a three-game series. James Simmons (1-1, 2.70 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Lancaster left-hander Luis Cruz (2-3, 6.25 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.
California League Stories from June 2, 2013
- 'Hawks Rout 'Hide to Take Series - Lancaster JetHawks
- Mavericks Rally Late to Drop Modesto - Modesto Nuts
- Muncy's Slam Sends Ports to 6-3 Victory - Stockton Ports
- Late Grand Slam Dooms Giants in 6-3 Loss - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Play Long-Ball, Back Gould for Win - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Pair of Three-Run Homers Down Blaze, 7-3 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Gagnon Deals as Nuts Win Again, 3-1 - Modesto Nuts
- Rough Ninth for Quakes - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Blaze Mount Ninth Inning Comeback, Stun Quakes, 9-8 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Homers Help Ports to 9-4 Win over Giants - Stockton Ports
- Tucker Extends Streak, RBI Lead in Win - Lancaster JetHawks
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