Ports Clinch Playoff Berth with 14-2 Victory
Published on September 4, 2015 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
VISALIA, Calif. - At a ballpark in which they've struggled to win all season, the Stockton Ports dominated early and went on to punch their ticket to the 2015 California League playoffs on Thursday night. Stockton scored seven runs over the first two innings at Recreation Ballpark on their way to a lopsided 14-2 win over the Visalia Rawhide. Stockton's win, coupled with a Modesto Nuts loss in San Jose, secures the Ports a spot in the post-season for a second straight year.
The Ports got to Rawhide starter Markus Solbach (2-2) in the top of the first. After Solbach retired the first two batters, Solbach walked Yairo Munoz and then the Ports would rattle off seven straight singles, including three straight to begin the second inning. Jake Nottingham singled to center and John Nogowski put the Ports on the board with a single to center to make it a 1-0 Stockton lead. B.J. Boyd followed with a single to right to make it 2-0. Tyler Marincov came up next and singled to left on which Nogowski tried to score from second, but was thrown out on a play at the plate to end the inning.
Stockton continued its offensive barrage in the second. Michael Soto, Branden Cogswell and Brett Vertigan each singled to start the inning, with Vertigan's single driving in Soto to make it a 3-0 game. After Melvin Mercedes flew out, Munoz delivered an RBI single to left and Nottingham followed with a three-run homer to left-center to balloon the Stockton lead to 7-0.
Solbach suffered the loss for Visalia, going two innings and allowing seven runs on nine hits.
Ports starter Dylan Covey (8-9) allowed just one run in his outing and it came in the bottom of the third. With two on and one out, Kevin Medrano singled to right and the ball was overrun by the right fielder Marincov, allowing Fidel Pena to score and make it a 7-1 contest. It was the only tally yielded by Covey as he went on to earn the win, going six innings and allowing one run on three hits while walking two and striking out five.
Tom Jameson came on in relief of Solbach to begin the third and would pitch three scoreless innings while allowing three hits and striking out three.
Johnny Shuttlesworth came on to pitch the sixth and after setting the side down in order in his first inning, allowed two runs in the seventh. After Nogowski reached on an error to open the frame, Boyd tripled to left field to make it 8-1. Boyd scored on an ensuing sac-fly by Marincov that ran the lead up to 9-1.
The Ports added four more runs off Shuttlesworth in the eighth. With one out the Ports loaded the bases on three straight singles and Nogowski drove in two more runs with a double to the right field corner. Boyd added a double to right to drive in another run and Marincov followed with his second sac-fly in as many innings to run the Stockton lead to 13-1.
Visalia's second run of the contest came in the bottom of the eighth off Joel Seddon. Gerson Montilla opened the frame with a double and scored on a two-out double up the right field line by Domingo Leyba to make it a 13-2 contest. It was the only run allowed by Seddon in his lone inning of work.
Shuttlesworth came out to pitch the ninth and allowed one last run. With two outs, he walked Mercedes and then gave up back-to-back singles to Munoz and Nottingham, with Nottingham's knocking in Mercedes to make it a 14-2 game.
Shuttlesworth went four innings and allowed eight runs on eight hits.
Corey Walter set the side down in order in the ninth to seal the victory for Stockton.
Nottingham and Munoz each had four hits in the victory while Nottingham knocked in four runs for the Ports.
The Ports and San Jose Giants will square off in a best-of-three North Division Mini-Series beginning on Wednesday with the home field advantage for that series still to be determined.
The Ports return to Banner Island Ballpark to wrap up the regular season with a four-game series versus the Modesto Nuts beginning on Friday night. Matt Stalcup (3-5, 3.21 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Modesto southpaw Kyle Freeland (2-2, 4.64 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.
California League Stories from September 4, 2015
- Cal League Honors Umpire of the Year - CalL1
- San Jose Giants on Deck: Playoff Bound Giants Conclude Regular Season in Bakersfield - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Drop Road Finale, Home Friday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- 'Hawks Fall Flat in Bakersfield Finale - Lancaster JetHawks
- 66ers Cap Home Schedule with Wild Win - Inland Empire 66ers
- O'Neill and Wilson Homer in 6-2 Victory - Bakersfield Blaze
- Nuts Fall 8-2; Eliminated from Playoff Contention - Modesto Nuts
- Ports Clinch Playoff Berth with 14-2 Victory - Stockton Ports
- Giants Complete Sweep of Nuts with 8-2 Victory - San Jose Giants
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