Ports Blast Way to 8-2 Win
July 20, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports hit a season-high five home runs on Sunday night at Banner Island Ballpark. The five big flies, including two from Franklin Barreto and two from John Nogowski helped Stockton to an 8-2 win over the Bakersfield Blaze, their second straight victory after dropping two of three at San Jose.
Each team scored a run in the first inning as the Blaze got a two-out triple from Tim Lopes and an ensuing double from Kyle Petty to take a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the first, the Ports loaded the bases with one out and Nogowski provided a sacrifice fly to knot the game at 1-1.
The Ports took the lead and knocked Blaze starter Tyler Pike (2-4) from the contest in the third. After retiring the first batter of the frame, Pike yielded a solo home run to Barreto that gave the Ports a 2-1 lead. Pike then walked Tyler Marincov and surrendered a two-run homer to Matt Chapman. Nogowski followed with his first home run of the contest to make it a 5-1 ballgame.
Pike suffered the loss, going 2.1 innings and allowing five runs on four hits while walking four.
Ports starter Kyle Finnegan (6-6), after escaping a jam with the bases loaded and one out in the second, kept the Blaze off the scoreboard until the fifth. Nelson Ward led off the fifth with a double and scored on two ensuing ground balls to the right side, the second one from Lopes to cut the Ports lead to 5-2. It was the final run allowed by Finnegan who picked up the win, going five innings and allowing two runs on four hits while striking out five.
The Ports added to their lead over the final four innings. In the fifth, Melvin Mercedes hit a sac-fly to center with runners at the corners and one out to bring the lead back to four runs at 6-2. It was the only run allowed by Blaze reliever Emilio Pagan in his 3.1 innings of work. Will Mathis took over with two outs in the seventh and went on to allow a pair of solo home runs to Nogowski in the seventh and Barreto in the eighth that brought the Stockton lead to 8-2. Mathis allowed two runs on three hits over 2.1 innings of relief.
Stockton's bullpen, a combination of Trevor Bayless, Victor Veliz, Joel Seddon and Corey Walter combined to pitch four scoreless innings in relief of Finnegan.
The Ports and Blaze play the third game of their four-game set on Monday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Raul Alcantara (0-0, 4.03 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Bakersfield right-hander Brett Ash (4-6, 3.09 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.
California League Stories from July 20, 2015
- Tyler Horan Named California League Offensive Player of the Week - San Jose Giants
- High Desert Mavericks Monday Double-Header Game Time Changed - High Desert Mavericks
- Banner Island Ballpark Set to Host 2016 CCAA Baseball Championship - Stockton Ports
- Ports Blast Way to 8-2 Win - Stockton Ports
- Blaze Dingered to Death, 8-2 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Resilient Nuts Survive Storm in 5-4 Win - Modesto Nuts
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