Ports Blanked Again, Fall to 'Hide 2-0
August 15, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
STOCKTON, Calif. - For a second straight night, the Stockton Ports failed to score a run. For the 13th time in 16 tries, the Visalia Rawhide got the better of the Ports on Friday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Visalia scored a run in each of the final two frames to earn a 2-0 win over the Ports in the opener of a three-game series.
Stockton squandered an early scoring chance as Brett Vertigan doubled to lead off the first but was left stranded, even after sacrifice bunt advanced him to third base with one out. Opportunities would be few and far between for the Ports facing Rawhide starter Anthony Banda, who went on to pitch six scoreless innings while allowing three hits and striking out five.
Ports starter Matt Stalcup pitched around a two-out double in the first and went on to retire eight batters in-a-row after that. Stalcup pitched around a leadoff walk and a two-out single in the fourth and a leadoff walk in the fifth before retiring the final six batters he faced. He received a no-decision, going six scoreless innings and allowing two hits while striking out six.
After Trevor Bayless pitched around back-to-back one-out singles in the seventh, Joel Seddon (7-8) took over for Stockton in the eighth and issued a one-out walk to Kevin Medrano. Jamie Westbrook followed with an RBI double to the left field corner that gave Visalia a 1-0 lead. It was the only run allowed by Seddon in his lone inning of work as he suffered the loss.
After a perfect seventh inning worked by Steve Hathaway (5-1), Mason McCullough came on to start the eighth and surrendered a bunt single to Vertigan, who would steal second with one out. After McCullough walked Yairo Munoz, he struck out Jake Nottingham and was lifted in favor of J.R. Bradley, who got Tyler Marincov to ground out to the shortstop to end the threat.
Visalia padded its lead in the top of the ninth facing Corey Walter. Alex Glenn reached on a leadoff double, advanced to second on a groundout by Domingo Leyba and scored on a sac-fly by pinch-hitter Gerson Montilla to make it a 2-0 contest.
Nick Sarianides (SV, 20) came on to pitch the ninth for the Rawhide and pitched around a two-out single by Branden Cogswell to notch his 20th save of the season. Hathaway would be credited with the victory for Visalia.
Stockton has now gone 19 straight innings without scoring a run, while the pitching staff has posted a 1.02 ERA over the past six games.
The Ports and Rawhide play the middle game of their three-game set on Saturday at Banner Island Ballpark. Casey Meisner (0-0, 5.40 ERA) makes the start for Stockton. Visalia's starter is still to be determined. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
California League Stories from August 15, 2015
- Ports Blanked Again, Fall to 'Hide 2-0 - Stockton Ports
- 66ers Hold on for 7-6 Win Versus Mavs - Inland Empire 66ers
- Johnson Dazzles, Susac Homers in 3-0 Giants Win - San Jose Giants
- Streak Snapped at Eight - Bakersfield Blaze
- Senzatela Pitches Nuts to 5-1 Win - Modesto Nuts
- JetHawks Blanked by San Jose - Lancaster JetHawks
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