CalL1 Stockton Ports

Ports End Visalia Vexing, Win 7-5

Published on August 17, 2015 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Heading into Sunday night's contest, the Stockton Ports had not beaten the Visalia Rawhide since April 26th. The stretch of nine straight losses finally came to an end. The Ports, after seeing their one-run lead disappear in the top of the eighth, scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth to earn a 7-5 win over the Rawhide at Banner Island Ballpark.

The Ports began the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Brett Vertigan walked and J.P. Sportman followed with a single that put runners at the corners. Yairo Munoz drove in the game's first run with an RBI single to left-center to give the Ports a 1-0 lead. After a double-play left Sportman the lone runner at third base with two outs, B.J. Boyd delivered an RBI double to right to make it a 2-0 ballgame.

Visalia countered with three runs in the ensuing half-inning. Daniel Palka led off with a single and Kevin Cron followed with a two-run homer that knotted the score. Kevin Medrano followed with a single and advance to second on an ensuing groundout. Two batters later, Alex Glenn delivered a two-out RBI single to right that gave the Rawhide a 3-2 advantage.

The Rawhide added to their lead in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Jamie Westbrook doubled and scored on an RBI single that followed by Palka to make it a 4-2 game. It was the final run allowed by Ports starter Daniel Mengden, who did not factor into the decision after going 5.2 innings and allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out two.

The Ports got a run back in the last of the fifth. After a single, walk and a sac-bunt put runners at second and third, Vertigan delivered an RBI single to right to score a run and make it a 4-3 game. With runners at the corners and one out, Sportman hit into an inning-ending 1-6-3 double-play.

Stockton grabbed the lead back in the sixth. With one on and one out, Boyd hit his second double of the game to the alley in left-center, scoring Jake Nottingham from first with the tying run. Boyd scored on an ensuing double by John Nogowski to give the Ports a 6-5 advantage. It was the final run allowed by Rawhide starter Brandon Sinnery, who received a no-decision after going 5.2 innings and allowing five runs on nine hits.

Lou Trivino (9-4) took over to record the final out of the sixth and retired the first four batters he faced. With the Ports still leading 6-5, Trivino's first pitch of the eighth inning was hit over the center field wall by Palka to tie the game at 6-6. It was the only run and only hit allowed by Trivino, who went on to be the winning pitcher in the contest.

Joey Krehbiel (0-5) took over to start the bottom of the eighth after a perfect inning-and-a-third worked by Steve Hathaway. After back-to-back singles by Munoz and Nottingham opened the inning and put runners at the corners, Boyd hit a bouncer to the first baseman Cron who ran the ball to the third base line to get Munoz in a rundown between third and home. Nottingham and Boyd advanced to third and second, respectively, on the rundown play. Nogowski followed with a flair over the head of the shallow-playing second baseman Kevin Medrano, allowing both runs to score and giving the Ports a 7-5 lead.

Krehbiel suffered the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in his lone inning of work.

Corey Walter (SV, 4) entered to pitch the ninth and gave up a one-out single to Mitch Haniger to bring the possible-tying run to the plate. Walter, however, got Domingo Leyba to pop out and Westbrook to strike out to end the ballgame and notch his fourth save of the season.

Stockton's homestand continues on Monday when the Ports welcome the San Jose Giants to Banner Island Ballpark for a critical three-game series. The Ports lead the Giants by a game for the final playoff spot in the North Division entering the series. Raul Alcantara (0-2, 4.66 ERA) makes the start in the series opener for Stockton, opposed by San Jose southpaw Luis Ysla (2-5, 5.76 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.

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California League Stories from August 17, 2015


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