Ports Make It 11 Straight Wins with 3-1 Victory
August 19, 2010 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports (62-59) kept on rolling, winning their eleventh straight game on Wednesday night. The Ports handed the Lancaster JetHawks (48-73) a 3-1 loss at Banner Island Ballpark, powered by strong pitching. It is the longest winning streak by any team in the California League since the Lake Elsinore Storm won 13 straight games in 2007.
Southpaw Ben Hornbeck won his sixth game of the year, striking out eight batters in 6.0 innings. He allowed one unearned run on four hits in the outing. Jose Pina tossed 2.0 hitless, scoreless frames for his eighth hold, and Paul Smyth collected his 24th save for Stockton.
The JetHawks scored their lone run in the first inning. Center fielder Jay Austin singled toward second to start the game. With shortstop Jonathan Villar at bat, Hornbeck tried to pick off Austin. The throw went wild, and Austin made it to third on the error. Villar popped out for the first out of the inning. Right fielder Brandon Barnes then hit a sacrifice bunt, and Austin came running home to put Lancaster up, 1-0.
The JetHawks and starter Leandro Cespedes kept the Ports hitless until the fourth inning. With two out, catcher Yusuf Carter stepped up to the plate and slammed a 3-1 pitch over the left field wall for his tenth home run of the year. His solo shot tied up the game, 1-1.
The Ports added their winning runs in the fifth inning. Right fielder Jeremy Barfield singled to start the frame. He moved to second as center fielder David Thomas hit a sacrifice bunt. Third baseman Brandon Pinckney grounded out for the second out of the frame, and Barfield took third on the play. Left fielder Jermaine Mitchell then reached first on an error by shortstop Villar, which allowed Barfield to score. Shortstop Grant Green then slammed a double to score Mitchell and put the Ports ahead, 3-1.
The Ports had a couple of hits in the final few frames, but were unable to bring home their runners. The Stockton Ports had a tight lock on the JetHawks in the last few innings. Hornbeck and Pina combined to retire Lancaster in order in the sixth through eighth innings. Smyth allowed a hit to start the ninth inning to Villar, but then he then retired the next three batters in order to finish the game.
The Ports will take on the JetHawks in Game 3 of the series on Thursday night at 7:05 PM PST. RHP Matt Thomson will make his California League debut on Thursday for Stockton, while RHP Ross Seaton (6-10, 6.17). The Ports will draw the winners in their Legends of Baseball Memorabilia Raffle on Thursday night during the game. Fans can follow the game live on Comcast Hometown Network, (Channel 104 for Comcast customers in the Northern and Central California area) and on KWSX 1280 AM.
California League Stories from August 19, 2010
- Errors Haunt Mavs in Loss - High Desert Mavericks
- Ports Pitchers Keep JetHawks Offense in Check - Lancaster JetHawks
- Ports Raise Awareness with Pink Night - Stockton Ports
- San Jose Giants Homestand Preview: August 21st - 26th - San Jose Giants
- JetHawks Granted "All Ag-Cess" to AV Fair - Lancaster JetHawks
- Meet Richard Cates and Mike Piazza Today at BWW - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Quakes Now Two Back After 12-4 Loss - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Ports Make It 11 Straight Wins with 3-1 Victory - Stockton Ports
- Visalia Tops Giants; Losing Streak At Six - San Jose Giants
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
