CalL1 Stockton Ports

Pimentel Blasts Ports to 8-6 Victory

Published on June 28, 2018 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


SAN JOSE, Calif. - Stockton Ports first baseman Sandber Pimentel seems to have found his way out of a deep slump, and in a big way. For a second straight game, Pimentel hit a pair of multi-run homers and on Wednesday night, it helped the Ports rally from a deficit in the eighth inning to come from behind and beat the San Jose Giants 8-6 in a back-and-forth game at Municipal Stadium.

The Ports grabbed a four-run lead early as the Giants were betrayed by their defense in the second inning. With one out, Jason Goldstein reached base on the first of three errors in the inning and the first of five on the night committed by San Jose. Giants starter Mac Marshall would face Pimentel next and would stumble and fall on the first pitch he threw him. Marshall would exit the game with an apparent leg injury and Jeff Burke was summoned to face Pimentel, who went on to blast a two-run homer to left that gave the Ports a 2-0 lead. Brallan Perez came up next and reached on a fielding error committed by second baseman Jalen Miller. After Luke Persico singled to put runners at first and second, a wild pitch advanced them both into scoring position. Dairon Blanco would hit a ground ball to shortstop Brandon Van Horn and Van Horn would make a high throw to first, an error that allowed Blanco to be safe at first as he was credited with an RBI that made it 3-0. Persico would score on a sac-fly two batters later by Will Toffey to give the Ports a 4-0 advantage.

Marshall would be charged with an unearned run in an inning-and-a-third of work. Burke would go on to pitch two-and-two-thirds innings and surrender three runs (one earned) on four hits.

Ports starter Zack Erwin allowed a leadoff homer to Heath Quinn in the bottom of the second that made it a 4-1 game. After a scoreless third, Erwin would be tagged for five runs by the Giants in the fourth. After three straight singles to start the inning loaded the bases, Sandro Fabian drove in the first of the five runs with an RBI single to right. Jacob Heyward came up next and drew a bases-loaded walk that cut the Ports lead to 4-3 and Matt Winn delivered the knock-out blow to Erwin with a two-run double to center that vaulted the Giants in front 5-4. Erwin was then lifted for Sam Sheehan, who would retire all six batters he faced beginning with a sac-fly by Van Horn that made it 6-4.

Erwin would not factor into the decision as he went three-plus innings and allowed six runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out two.

Sheehan's two perfect innings would set the tone for a marvelous performance by the Stockton bullpen as the Giants went the rest of the game without any big threat. The Ports bullpen held San Jose to just two hits after the six-run fourth inning. Sheehan would work two perfect frames and hand the ball to Ty Damron (1-0), who retired six of the seven batters he faced beginning in the sixth.

DJ Myers took over for the Giants in the fifth and would have to leave the game in the sixth when Goldstein led off with a line drive that went off Myers' hand. Nolan Riggs (2-4) took over and would work into the eighth as he set the side down in order in the seventh. Riggs would give up a leadoff triple in the eighth to Luis Barrera. Two batters later, Pimentel came to the plate and delivered another home run; a two-run blast to left that tied the game at 6-6. After a walk and a single, Riggs was lifted for Rodolfo Martinez. Blanco greeted Martinez with a ground ball deep in the hole at shortstop. Van Horn fielded and tried to throw to second. The throw, which wouldn't have been in time to get the oncoming Persico, caromed away from Miller at second and allowed Perez to come down the third base line and score while Persico got up to third base. Persico would score on an ensuing sacrifice fly by Jonah Heim that gave Stockton an 8-6 advantage.

Riggs would suffer the loss as he was charged with four runs (three earned) on five hits over two-and-a-third innings.

After Pat Krall pitched a scoreless eighth and pitched around a one-out double by Gio Brusa, Angel Duno (SV, 7) took over in the ninth and gave up a one-out double to Van Horn that got the possible-tying run to the plate. Duno, however, would get Bryce Johnson to fly out and Miller to strike out to end the ballgame and notch his seventh save of the season. Duno saved the game for Damron, who picked up his first California League victory.

The win marked Stockton's fourth when trailing after the seventh inning. It also gives the Ports an opportunity for a series victory in Thursday's matinee that closes out the four-game set at Municipal Stadium. Dustin Hurlbutt (2-2, 2.40 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by San Jose right-hander Raffi Vizcaino (4-4, 4.55 ERA). First pitch is set for 12:30 p.m. PDT.

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California League Stories from June 28, 2018


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