Offense Sputters as Ports Fall 6-2
July 24, 2018 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
STOCKTON, Calif. - For the first time this season the Stockton Ports have lost back-to back series. Stockton dropped the rubber game of a three-game set to the Inland Empire 66ers on Monday night by a final of 6-2 and mustered just one hit after the third inning. The loss completed a 2-4 homestand for the Ports as they embark on a six-game road trip on Tuesday.
The Ports scored the first two runs of the game as Brett Siddall hit a solo home run with one out in the second to give Stockton the early lead. A run was added in the third inning as Cobie Vance doubled to lead off the inning and scored two batters later on an RBI single by Brallan Perez to make it a 2-0 score. The single by Perez, however, was Stockton's last hit until an infield single by Edwin Diaz with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
Stockton's first two runs came off 66ers starter Matt Ball, who did not factor into the decision after going four innings and allowing two runs on three hits while striking out four.
Ports starter Zack Erwin (7-8) looked sharp through four as he allowed just one hit in that span. Erwin retired the first batter of the fifth, the eighth consecutive hitter he'd set down. After that, however, five-in-a-row would reach base as Julian Leon walked, Alberto Triunfel singled and DJ Jenkins doubled to drive in Leon with Inland Empire's first run. Brandon Marsh came up next and tied the game with an infield single and Jo Adell broke the tie with an RBI single into center field to give the 66ers a 3-2 lead. Two batters later, Stockton second baseman Trace Loehr would drop a pop-fly on the infield that allowed a fourth run to score.
Erwin would suffer the loss, going five innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits while walking three and striking out three.
Inland Empire added to its lead with solo homers in each of the next two innings off Ports reliever Ty Damron. Leon homered to open the fifth and Franklin Torres hit his third homer in the last two games with two outs in the sixth to make it a 6-2 66ers advantage.
Isaac Mattson (1-0) came on to start the fifth and would go on to finish the game for Inland Empire. Mattson didn't allow a hit until the two-out infield single hit by Diaz in the bottom of the ninth. Mattson would pick up the win, tossing five scoreless innings and working around four walks while striking out two.
Andrew Tomasovich pitched the final two innings scoreless for Stockton.
The Ports begin a six-game road trip with a three-game series in Modesto on Tuesday night at John Thurman Field. Kyle Friedrichs (1-0, 4.09 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Nuts right-hander Reggie McClain (3-8, 4.96 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.
California League Stories from July 24, 2018
- San Jose Giants Homestand Preview: July 24 - July 29 - San Jose Giants
- Sixers Take Series with 6-2 Win at Stockton, Mattson Stars from Pen - Inland Empire 66ers
- JetHawks Take Finale, Series in Visalia - Lancaster JetHawks
- Offense Sputters as Ports Fall 6-2 - Stockton Ports
- Giants Swept in Lake Elsinore - San Jose Giants
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