Ports Blow Early Lead, Win 8-7 in Extras
July 23, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
VISALIA, Calif. - The Stockton Ports blew a five-run lead on Friday night, only to rally for their second extra-inning win of the week. The Ports scored two runs in the top of the 11th inning and held on as the Visalia Rawhide had the winning run in scoring position as the Ports earned their third straight win, beating the Rawhide by a final of 8-7.
The Ports wasted no time taking a 2-0 lead as James Harris opened the game with a single to left and scored on an ensuing triple by Melvin Mercedes. B.J. Boyd followed with an RBI groundout to give the Ports the early advantage.
Visalia got a run back in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Marty Herum hit a chopper to third that was lost in the sun by Jose Brizuela. Grant Heyman followed with an RBI double that cut the Stockton lead to 2-1.
Stockton's offense built a five-run lead beginning in the third. With runners at the corners and one out, Harris scored from third on a wild pitch. Joe Bennie followed with an RBI double that ran the Stockton lead to 4-1.
Harris, who came a home run shy of hitting for the cycle on Thursday night, hit a two-run homer with two outs in the fourth inning to make it a 6-1 Ports advantage.
Visalia starter Joel Payamps went four innings and allowed six runs on six hits while walking two and striking out six.
Ports starter Brett Graves cruised after allowing the run in the first. Graves allowed just two more hits from the second through the sixth inning and had a 6-1 lead going into the seventh. Graves would allow three straight hits to open the seventh, a double to Heyman, an RBI single to Henry Castillo and a single to Joe Munoz that chased him from the game. Corey Miller was summoned and retired the first two batters he faced, but then surrendered a three-run homer to Galli Cribbs with two outs that got the Rawhide back into the game and cut the Ports lead to 6-5.
Graves was rendered a no-decision, going six-plus innings and allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out four. Miller pitched one inning and allowed one run on one hit.
Cody Stull took over in the eighth and issued a one-out walk to Herum. With Herum at second base and two outs, Castillo hit a sharp ground ball to short that ate up Richie Martin, allowing Herum to score the tying run and make it a 6-6 ballgame. The run was unearned and the only run allowed by Stull in two innings of relief.
Visalia's bullpen, a combination of Jency Solis, Yuhei Nakaushiro and Gabriel Moya, combined for six scoreless innings to take the Rawhide through the 10th. Myles Smith (1-1) took over in the 11th and gave up an infield single to Argenis Raga. Two batters later, Mercedes singled to right to put runners at the corners. After Boyd was intentionally walked to load the bases, Bennie came up and hit a slow bouncer to shortstop. The force out was recorded at second base but the throw to first by Castillo was off-line and skipped into foul territory, allowing two runs to score and giving the Ports an 8-6 lead.
Joey Wagman (4-6), who set the side down in order in the 10th, opened the 11th with his third straight strikeout. With one out, Castillo reached on an infield single and then Wagman issued back-to-back walks that loaded the bases. After Zack Nehrir grounded out to first to bring in a run and put the tying and winning runs into scoring position, Cribbs came up and grounded out to first to end the ballgame.
Wagman, who pitched the final two innings, earned the win. Smith, who allowed an earned and an unearned run in the 11th, suffered the loss for Visalia.
The Ports and Rawhide play the third game of their four-game set on Saturday night at Recreation Ballpark. James Naile (0-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his California League debut for Stockton, opposed by Visalia right-hander Markus Solbach (0-0, 5.23 ERA). First pitch is set for 7 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 July 23, 2016
- Giants Rout Sixers Behind 18-Hit Outburst - San Jose Giants
- Quakes' Offense Held in Check in Loss to Storm - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Lancaster 6, High Desert 3 - Lancaster JetHawks
- Offense Paces 10-3 Win, Sixers Snap Seven-Game Skid - Inland Empire 66ers
- Furious Late Rally Falls Short for Visalia in 8-7, 11 - Visalia Rawhide
- Ports Blow Early Lead, Win 8-7 in Extras - Stockton Ports
- 66ers Cruise Past Giants to Even Series - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Rally in 9th to Beat Storm - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- High Desert 9, Lancaster 8 - Lancaster JetHawks
- Blaze Freeze Nuts in Thriller - Bakersfield Blaze
- Nuts Suffer Well-Pitched 3-0 Loss - Modesto Nuts
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