Offense Falls Flat in Saturday Night Loss to 66ers
July 17, 2022 - California League (CalL)
Stockton Ports News Release
STOCKTON, Calif. - Runs have been at a premium in the last two games between the Stockton Ports and the Inland Empire 66ers, and that was again the case on Saturday night. A late home run in the ninth inning prevented the Ports from getting shutout, but it was not enough to claw back as the Ports fell 3-1 in the fifth game of the series. Inland Empire has now won the three of the first five and will play for the series win on Sunday.
For the third night in a row, the 66ers struck first, this time scratching a run across Stockton starter James Gonzalez. The lefty allowed a leadoff single and a stolen base in the second inning to B.J. Boyd, who then moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a groundout from Quentin Selma, making it 1-0 66ers halfway through the second.
Take away that lone run in the inning and Gonzalez turned in his best outing as a Port, finishing the night going 4.2 innings and allowing just four hits, one walk, and striking out six, which tied a professional career best. He continued a trend of solid starts from Ports pitchers, making it four starts in a row with the starting pitcher allowing two runs or fewer.
Luke Anderson pitched the final four innings of the game for Stockton, and he allowed the final two runs of the game to come across. In the seventh inning, Selma got him for a leadoff home run on a line drive to right field. Two batters later, Adrian Placencia got one out in a hurry, tucked inside the right field foul pole. The second home run of the inning made it 3-0 Inland Empire, more than enough insurance for them to secure the victory.
Chase Chaney got the start for the 66ers, and he blanked the Ports over five innings of work, striking out six along the way while allowing six hits. He did run into trouble in the first three innings, where he allowed five of his hits, but the Ports stranded six runners on base in the first three frame. In the first, Shane McGuire and Jhoan Paulino singled with two outs, and then Junior Perez walked to load the bases, but the Ports couldn't cash in.
Starting with the final three batters that Chaney faced, the 66ers set down 12 consecutive Stockton hitters, taking that streak into the bottom of the ninth. Perez ended that streak by homering for the eighth time this season, sending one out to right field to make it a 3-1 game. That did not appear to shake Blake Siegler, who was on to close out the game. He got the next two outs, but then brought life back to the ballpark by hitting Nick Brueser with two strikes. Jalen Greer then represented the tying run, but he flew out to deep right field to end the game.
The series concludes on Sunday night at Banner Island Ballpark with a 6:05 first pitch. Yehizon Sanchez gets the ball for Stockton and will look to improve on his 1-4 record (5.76 earned run average). He will be opposed by left-hander Joey Walsh, who sports a 2-3 record with a 6.12 ERA. Sunday marks the final home game of the month of July for Stockton, as the Ports won't be at home against until August 2.
California League Stories from July 17, 2022
- Storm Lose Second Straight Before All-Star Break - Lake Elsinore Storm
- Offense Falls Flat in Saturday Night Loss to 66ers - Stockton Ports
- Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes at Rancho Cucamonga - Fresno Grizzlies
- Dupere's Dazzling Debut Propels Giants To Walk-Off Win - San Jose Giants
- Offense Falls Flat in Saturday Night Loss to 66ers - Stockton Ports
- Grizzlies Lose to Quakes - Fresno Grizzlies
- Quakes Clinch Series-Win over Fresno - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
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