One Big Inning Not Enough as Ports Fall 8-7
Published on June 28, 2014 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - It appeared as if a seven-run third inning would carry the Stockton Ports to victory on Friday night. The Bakersfield Blaze had other ideas. Stockton hit three home runs in the third inning and built a 7-0 cushion, but the Blaze scored the final eight runs of the game including two in their final at-bat to overcome a big deficit and send Stockton to an 8-7 loss.
Stockton's lone inning of sustained offense came in the third. Billy McKinney drew a walk and Bobby Crocker doubled to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Boog Powell drove in the first run with a groundout to second to give the Ports a 1-0 lead. After Daniel Robertson walked to put runners at the corners, Blaze starter Ismael Guillon uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Crocker to score and make it 2-0. With one on and two out, Matt Olson came to bat and hit a two-run homer to right, his third homer of the series. Two batters later, Ryon Healy launched a two-run homer to left to make it 6-0. Bruce Maxwell followed with a solo homer to center to stretch the Ports lead to 7-0 and knock Guillon from the contest.
Guillon would receive a no-decision, allowing seven runs on four hits over 2.2 innings pitched.
After Daniel Renken came in and pitched two-thirds of an inning before leaving due to injury, Mike Dennhardt entered the game and would go on to retire 13 of the 14 batters he faced without allowing a hit to take the game through the eighth inning.
Ports starter Seth Streich p itched around four hits allowed over the first four innings to keep the Blaze out of the run column. In the fifth, however, the Blaze got four straight hits with one out. With runners at the corners, Yovan Gonzalez lined an RBI single to center to score John Tolisano and give the Blaze their first run. Two batters later with runners at the corners, Zach Vincej hit a potential double-play ball to third. Healy fielded the ball and threw to second and before Chad Pinder could turn and throw to first, he went down with an injury as he was taken out on a slide by Beau Amaral at second, breaking up the double play and enabling another run to score. Pinder would leave the game and Wade Kirkland took over at second base.
Streich received a no-decision, going six innings and allowing two runs on four hits while striking out three.
Michael Ynoa took over in the seventh and pitched his first inning scoreless, but Ynoa would get hit around in the eighth. With two on and one out, Sebasitan Elizalde hit an RBI double out to right-center to cut the Ports lead to 7-3. With runners at second and third, Juan Perez drove in another run with a sac-fly to center. Tolisano followed with a two-run homer to right that brought the Blaze to within a run at 7-6 and knocked Ynoa from the game. Austin House (0-3) came on to record the final out of the eighth.
House, who'd been a perfect 10-for-10 in save chances, came out to pitch the ninth and gave up back-to-back singles to Gonzalez and Julio Morillo, who'd entered the game defensively in the eighth inning. After a Vincej sac-bunt advanced the runners into scoring position, Jeff Gelalich was intentionally walked to load the bases. After House recorded a strikeout of Vidal, Elizalde came up and, on an 0-2 pitch, served a two-run single into left field that won the game for the Blaze who were down to their final strike.
House suffered his first blown save and the loss, allowing two runs on three this in an inning of work.
The Ports and Blaze play the third game of their four-game set on Saturday at Sam Lynn Ballpark. Jake Sanchez (0-0, 3.00 ERA) will make his second start of the season for Stockton, opposed by Blaze right-hander Daniel Wright (4-0, 4.65 ERA). First pitch is set for approximately 7:50 p.m. PDT.
California League Stories from June 28, 2014
- Galindo Perfect At The Plate In 7-5 Giants' Win - San Jose Giants
- Two Late Homers Doom Nuts in 8-5 Loss - Modesto Nuts
- Gregor Ties League-Best Hit Streak in Loss - Lancaster JetHawks
- One Big Inning Not Enough as Ports Fall 8-7 - Stockton Ports
- Jones' Slam Powers Giants to 8-3 Victory - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Improve to 8-1 in Second Half After Win over Sixers - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Most Exciting Game of the Year, Blaze Walk Off 8-7 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Nuts Club Six Extra Base Hits in 14-7 Win - Modesto Nuts
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