Ports Left Frustrated For Second Straight Night
Published on May 31, 2008 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
STOCKTON, Calif. - These are hard times for the Stockton Ports offense. For the second straight night, the Ports out-hit the High Desert Mavericks, and for the second straight night, they couldn't pull out the win. Despite the best efforts of starter Trevor Cahill (5-3), Stockton once again fell short as High Desert held on for a 4-2 win at Banner Island Ballpark.
Cahill allowed his first run in the first inning. With two outs, Carlos Peguero doubled to left to give the Mavs a 1-0 lead. Following a 1-2-3 second, Cahill was hit up for two more runs in the third. Ninth-placed hitter Ogui Diaz led off with his first home run of the season--a solo shot to left-center to make it 2-0. Two batters later, Carlos Triunfel worked a walk, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on an RBI double from Matt Mangini to give the Mavs a 3-0 edge.
The double to Mangini was the last hit that Cahill allowed. He set down the last 17 batters he faced to end the night, but wound up with the loss. He went eight innings and allowed just the three runs on three hits while striking out six.
Mavericks starter Anthony Varvaro (2-4) was equal to the task. Varvaro gave up a two-out single to Sean Doolittle in the first, and then retired the next 14 batters he faced to get to the sixth inning. He gave up a single to Matt Sulentic in the sixth, but escaped the inning unscathed.
In the bottom of the seventh, Stockton's offense finally came to life and in a big way. Doolittle and Raul Padron launched back-to-back home runs to get the Ports to within a run at 3-2. The homers knocked Varvaro from the game, and the Mavericks brought in left-handed reliever Mike Wagner, who recorded two quick outs. Frank Martinez worked a two-out walk, but Chris Carter hit into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
Varvaro went six-plus innings and allowed two runs on four hits while striking out seven. He did not allow a walk on the night.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Ports got a leadoff single from Sulentic, but he traded places with Archie Gilbert at first when Gilbert hit into a fielder's choice. Gilbert stole second to put the tying run in scoring position. With two outs, David Asher was summoned from the bullpen and he walked Doolittle to put two on. Asher got Padron to pop out to end the inning and the final Ports threat of the night.
In the top of the ninth, Mangini greeted new pitcher Arnold Leon with a solo home run to give the Mavs a 4-2 edge. It was the only run Leon allowed in his inning of work.
Aaron Cotter (SV, 2), making his second appearance in as many nights, set the side down in order in the bottom of the ninth to secure the save and another Mavs win.
The Ports and Mavericks will wrap up their four game series on Saturday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Left-hander James Heuser (2-1, 5.93 ERA) will toe the rubber for Stockton, opposed by Kyle Parker (5-1, 4.14 ERA) for High Desert. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PST. Post-game fireworks will follow the game, presented by Food-4-Less.
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