CalL1 Stockton Ports

Ports Drop Third Straight, Fall 7-5

Published on August 1, 2019 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports dropped their fourth consecutive series on Wednesday night at Banner Island Ballpark. The Modesto Nuts scored seven runs over the fifth and sixth innings and rode them to a 7-5 win over Stockton in the second game of their three-game series, setting up a chance to sweep the series on Thursday night.

Stockton opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth as Trace Loehr doubled to start the inning and scored two batters later on a double by Jeremy Eierman to make it a 1-0 ballgame.

Ports starter Xavier Altamirano (5-8) was unable to find the shutdown inning as Modesto rallied for three runs in the top of the fifth. Jack Larsen tripled to open the frame and scored on an ensuing sac-fly by Keegan McGovern to tie the game at 1-1. Later in the inning with two outs, David Schaeffer doubled, and Johnny Adams tripled to drive him in to make it 2-1. Adams would score on an ensuing fielding error by shortstop Jeremy Eierman to make it a 3-1 contest.

Stockton tied the score in the fifth on a two-run homer by Ryan Gridley with one out in the inning, knotting the contest at 3-3. Those were the final runs allowed by Nuts stasrter Clay Chandler (1-1), who earned his first California League victory after allowing three runs on five hits over five innings.

The Modesto offense would once again rally in the sixth. Altamirano gave up a leadoff home run to Jarred Kelenic that gave Modesto a 4-3 lead. After a double by Joe Rizzo and a walk drawn by Jake Scheiner, Altamirano struck out Jack Larsen and then was lifted for Michael Danielak, who gave up a three-run homer to McGovern that ran the Nuts lead to 7-3.

Altamirano suffered the loss, going 5 1/3 innings and allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits while striking out four.

After two scoreless innings worked by Ray Kerr, Modesto turned to David Ellingson in the eighth and Ellingson gave up a leadoff single to Eierman. Jonah Bride came up next and reached on a throwing error committed by shortstop Connor Kopach that put runners at second and third. Lazaro Armenteros drove in Eierman with an RBI groundout and Robert Mullen followed with an RBI double to bring the Ports to within two runs at 7-5. Ellingson, though, would strike out Nico Giarratano and get Matt Cross to ground out to end the inning.

Kyle Wilcox (SV, 2) came on to work the ninth and, after issuing a leadoff walk to Gridley, got back-to-back strikeouts of Loehr and Alfonso Rivas and then got Eierman to ground out to end the ballgame and notch his second save of the season.

Nick Highberger worked two scoreless innings in relief for Stockton down the stretch.

The Ports and Nuts wrap up their three-game series on Thursday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Left-hander Hogan Harris (0-0, 2.08 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Modesto right-hander Penn Murfee (5-4, 2.34 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.

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California League Stories from August 1, 2019


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