CalL1 Stockton Ports

Nuts' Ninth Inning Rally Sinks Ports 6-5

Published on April 17, 2016 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


MODESTO, Calif. - The Stockton Ports were three outs away from a series victory on Sunday afternoon at John Thurman Field in Modesto. The Modesto Nuts, however, were saved by a late surge. Modesto scored three runs off Ben Bracewell (0-1) in the bottom of the ninth to overcome a 5-3 deficit and send the Ports to a 6-5 loss, earning a split of the four-game set.

Stockton got off to a fast start in the first as James Harris led off with a double and scored on a two-out home run by Tyler Marincov. Modesto got a run back in the bottom of the inning as Dom Nunez delivered a two-out RBI single to make it a 2-1 contest.

Modesto's run in the bottom of the first was the only run allowed by Stockton starter Zack Erwin, who induced three double-plays in six strong innings of work. Erwin left the game in line to be the winning pitcher but was rendered a no-decision, going six innings and allowing seven hits while walking two and striking out two.

Nuts starter Ryan Castellani gave up his final run in the fourth when Andy Paz doubled with one out and scored on an ensuing RBI single by Sandber Pimentel to run the Ports lead to 3-1. Castellani also received a no-decision, going 5.1 innings and allowing three runs on six hits while walking four and striking out six.

Matt Stalup took over in the seventh as he made his season debut for Stockton. Stalcup gave up a leadoff single and then a walk to put two aboard. After a sacrifice bunt, a passed ball allowed Emerson Jimenez to score to make it 3-2. Shane Hoelscher followed with an RBI single on the infield to tie the game at 3-3. Stalcup escaped further trouble in the seventh and then pitched around a leadoff walk in the eighth to keep Modesto off the board.

Helmis Rodriguez entered the game in the sixth for Modesto and, after hitting the first batter he faced, proceeded to retire the next eight batters in a row to take him through the eighth. Rodriguez came out to pitch the ninth and issued back-to-back walks to Paz and Jose Brizuela. John Nogowski came up next as a pinch-hitter and laid down a squeeze bunt up the first base line on which Brizuela beat the throw home to give the Ports a 4-3 lead. Rodriguez was then lifted for Luis Niebla (1-0), who gave up a sac-fly to Harris that made it a 5-3 Stockton lead.

Both runs in the ninth inning were charged to Rodriguez, who would not factor into the decision after two-and-two-thirds innings.

Bracewell took over for Stalcup to begin the ninth and gave up a leadoff double to Luis Jean. Two batters later with one out, Bracewell hit Hoelscher to put two aboard. Nunez followed and hit a one-hopper to second base that went off the glove of Joe Bennie which loaded the bases. Collin Ferguson came up next and delivered a game-tying two-run double to left-center that also put Nunez, the winning run, at third. Roberto Ramos followed with the game-winning single to center to plate Nunez and give the Nuts a 6-5 walk-off win.

Bracewell suffered the blown save and the loss while Niebla picked up the victory for the Nuts.

After splitting their four-game set with Modesto, the Ports continue their road trip as they travel to Visalia to begin a three-game series on Monday with the Rawhide. Daniel Gossett (1-0, 2.25 ERA) makes the start in the series opener for Stockton. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. PDT.

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California League Stories from April 17, 2016


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