Ports Light up Rawhide 9-5, Win Fifth Straight
Published on June 3, 2018 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
VISALIA, Calif. - After the Stockton Ports scored five runs in the fourth inning, the lights went out at Recreation Ballpark. Following a 36-minute delay, the Ports kept their momentum going and cruised to a 9-5 win over the Visalia Rawhide, their fifth consecutive win and a victory that clinched their fourth consecutive series victory.
For a second straight game each team scored in the first inning. With runners at the corners and two outs in the top of the first, the Ports successfully executed a double-steal as Dairon Blanco went from first to second and coaxed a throw down from Daulton Varsho. Blanco beat the throw and Nate Mondou, the runner at third, came home and scored easily to give the Ports a 1-0 lead.
Visalia countered in the bottom of the first when, with two on and two out, Drew Ellis hit a two-run double to left to make it a 2-1 Rawhide lead. Stockton tied it in the third. With runners at second and third and one out, Skye Bolt grounded out to score Brallan Perez from third and knot the game at 2-2.
Stockton's biggest inning followed in the top of the fourth. Rawhide starter Connor Grey (4-3) gave up a leadoff double to Jonah Heim followed by a single to Will Toffey. Luke Persico followed with an RBI single to left to make it a 3-2 Stockton lead. Three batters later with runners at the corners and two outs, Visalia second baseman Luis Alejandro Basabe committed a fielding error on a ball put in play by Kevin Merrell that resulted in a run scoring and the inning continuing. Mondou came up next and made the Rawhide pay dearly with a three-run homer to right to make it a 7-2 Stockton lead.
Grey suffered the loss, going four innings and allowing seven runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out four.
After the lights went out at the start of the bottom of the fourth inning, Ports starter Zack Erwin (5-3) stayed in the game and pitched a scoreless fourth and fifth. Visalia scored a run off Erwin in the sixth on a two-out RBI single by Varsho that cut the Ports lead to 7-3.
Erwin would earn the win, going six innings and allowing three runs on six hits while striking out four.
The Ports scored a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh on back-to-back two-out RBI doubles by Heim and Toffey off Rawhide reliever Robby Sexton that made it a 9-3 game.
Brendan Butler took over for Erwin in the seventh and gave up a leadoff home run to Pavin Smith. It was Butler's lone inning of work. After Sam Sheehan worked a scoreless eighth inning, Will Gilbert worked the ninth and gave up a two-out RBI double to Mark Karaviotis, but got Luis Silverio to pop out to end the ballgame.
Stockton will try for a sixth straight win and a series sweep on Sunday night at Recreation Ballpark. Dustin Hurlbutt (1-0, 0.00 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Visalia right-hander and California League ERA leader Emilio Vargas (3-1, 1.41 ERA). First pitch is set for 6 p.m. PDT.
California League Stories from June 3, 2018
- 66ers Lose 5-1 at Lake Elsinore - Inland Empire 66ers
- Storm Withstands 66ers Late Rally - Inland Empire 66ers
- Quakes Fall Sunday, Now One Game Back in South - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Near No-No Helps 'Hawks Hold off Rancho - Lancaster JetHawks
- Giants Drop Rubber Game to Modesto, 6-5 - San Jose Giants
- Nuts Battle Back to Earn 6-5 Win - Modesto Nuts
- Ports Light up Rawhide 9-5, Win Fifth Straight - Stockton Ports
- Rancho Wins Fifth Straight, Moves into First-Place Tie - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Stockton Puts up Big Inning to Win - Visalia Rawhide
- Walton Whacks Winning Single in Comeback Win - Modesto Nuts
- 'Hawks Hampered by Homers in Rancho - Lancaster JetHawks
- Nuts Ninth-Inning Rally Sinks Giants - San Jose Giants
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