Oaks Take Regular Season Finale 6-3
Published on September 2, 2008 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
STOCKTON, Calif. - After failing to make the playoffs this season, the Visalia Oaks were looking for a silver lining in their dark clouds. They got their silver lining on Monday at Banner Island Ballpark, beating the Stockton Ports in the final game of the 2008 regular season by a count of 6-3. Visalia's win ended the Ports' five-game winning streak. With the loss, the Ports wrap up their final homestand of the regular season at a 5-2 mark, and finish the regular season with an overall record of 76-64, tying them with the Lancaster JetHawks for the second best overall record in the Cal-League.
Visalia got on the board first in the top of the second on Ricardo Sosa's 13th home run of the year--a two-run shot to right off Ports starter Derrick Gordon (5-5) to give the Oaks a 2-0 lead. Gordon was the first of four pitchers on the night for the Ports, as Stockton had planned to have a bullpen effort on the night. Those were the only runs Gordon allowed in two innings of work. Unfortunately for him, the Ports would never come back to even the score, and Gordon would end up with the loss on the night.
The Ports fired countermeasures in the bottom of the second with a leadoff solo home run from Matt Spencer, cutting Visalia's lead to 2-1. It was only the fifth home run that Oaks starter Barry Enright (12-8) had allowed on the season.
In the third, Visalia padded their lead with Ports reliever Kristian Bell on the hill. With two out, the Oaks got back-to-back RBI singles from Mike Mee and Sosa to re-up their lead to 4-1. Those were the only two runs Bell allowed in his two innings of work.
Stockton made another run in the bottom of the fifth. Archie Gilbert brought in a run on a groundout to third, and Josh Horton followed with an RBI double to right to pull the Ports to within a run at 4-3. It was as close as they'd come, however, as those were the final runs they scored on the night. Enright wrapped up his night after six innings, earning the win after allowing three runs on six hits while walking one and striking out five.
Chase Christianson came on in relief of Enright and pitched the seventh and eighth innings while keeping Stockton off the scoreboard. Josh Ellis (SV, 7) would earn his seventh save by pitching a perfect bottom of the ninth.
The Oaks added two late runs off Ports reliever Branden Dewing. In the eighth, the Oaks got a sac-fly from Manny Ferrer, and in the ninth an RBI double from Ed Easley to take a 6-3 lead. Dewing allowed two runs in his 2.1 innings of work.
The only Ports pitcher to not allow a run on the night was Jose Fragoso, who kept the Oaks off the board in his 2.2 innings of work.
Stockton will continue their quest for an 11th Cal-League title when they play Game 1 of a three-game mini-series against the rival Modesto Nuts beginning on Wednesday at John Thurman Field in Modesto. Scott Mitchinson (1-0, 1.69 ERA) will start Game 1 for Stockton, opposed by Modesto right-hander Jhoulys Chacin (8-2, 2.31 ERA). First pitch of Game 1 is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT. The series will return to Stockton on Thursday for Game 2, and Friday for Game 3 if necessary. Playoff tickets for games at Banner Island Ballpark are on sale now, and can be purchased online at stocktonports.com, in person at the Ports Box Office, or by calling (209) 644-1900.
California League Stories from September 2, 2008
- Nuts Begin Playoff Series Wednesday Night at John Thurman Field - Modesto Nuts
- Preparing For Game Number 141 - Inland Empire 66ers
- Oaks Take Regular Season Finale 6-3 - Stockton Ports
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