Offense Lags Again as Ports Drop Fifth Straight
Published on July 10, 2015 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
STOCKTON, Calif. - For the second straight night, the Visalia Rawhide pitching staff totally shut down the Stockton Ports offense in the mid-to-late innings at Banner Island Ballpark. After retiring 16 of the final 18 batters to close out the game on Wednesday night, Rawhide pitching set down 19 of the final 21 on Thursday in sending the Ports to their season-high fifth consecutive loss by a final of 9-2.
Visalia took a 3-0 lead before the first out of the game was recorded. Mitch Haniger doubled to left to open the ballgame and scored on an ensuing RBI single by Domingo Leyba. Kevin Cron followed with a two-run homer to left to make it a 3-0 ballgame. The Rawhide added a run I the second on a one-out RBI single by Haniger, scoring Fidel Pena who'd singled with one out to make it a 4-0 contest.
The first four Visalia runs were allowed by Ports starter Joel Seddon (6-5), who suffered the loss after going four innings and allowing six hits while walking two and striking out three.
Stockton's lone runs of the game came in the third inning. With two outs, Franklin Barreto singled to set up Tyler Marincov for a two-run homer, his 10th of the season to cut the Rawhide lead in half at 4-2. It was the only mistake made by Rawhide starter Brandon Sinnery (1-0), who earned the win after allowing two runs on four hits while striking out five in six innings pitched.
Following the Marincov home run, Sinnery retired nine in a row and Visalia pitching set down 19 of 21 batters to close out the ballgame. Mason McCullough pitched a scoreless seventh while J.R. Bradley pitched two perfect innings beginning in the eighth.
Visalia would add to its lead beginning in the fifth with Victor Veliz on the mound for Stockton. With two outs in the fifth, Jamie Westbrook hit a solo home run off of Veliz to make it 5-2. After a scoreless sixth, Veliz allowed four runs in the seventh. Leyba singled to open the inning and scored two batters later on a double by Alex Glenn to increase the Rawhide lead to 6-2. After Westbrook reached on an infield single, Stryker Trahan delivered the knock-out blow with a three-run homer to right to make it a 9-2 contest.
Veliz allowed five runs on six hits in three innings of work.
Ben Bracewell and Phil Coke pitched a perfect eighth and ninth, respectively, to finish the game for Stockton.
The Ports and Rawhide wrap up their four-game set on Friday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Dylan Covey (6-4, 3.60 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Visalia right-hander R.J. Hively (0-1, 6.75 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.
California League Stories from July 10, 2015
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- Quakes' Rally Falls Shy, Fall to Lancaster - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Offense Lags Again as Ports Drop Fifth Straight - Stockton Ports
- Blaze Blanked 3-0 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Agosta Masterful in 3-0 Giants Victory - San Jose Giants
- Top of the Order Does Bulk of the Damage in 7-4 Win - Modesto Nuts
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