Ports Prevail 10-9 to Snap Skid
August 7, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
STOCKTON, Calif. - Winning has not been easy for the Stockton Ports over the past two weeks, and it took everything they had to beat the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in the opener of a four-game series on Thursday night at Banner Island Ballpark. In a game that featured nine combined runs over the final two-and-a-half innings, the Ports plated two in the last of the eighth to overcome the Quakes by a final of 10-9 to end a four-game losing skid.
The Ports opened the scoring with a four-run bottom of the second. With the bases loaded and two outs, Tyler Marincov scored from third on a passed ball charged to Quakes catcher Webster Rivas that gave the Ports a 1-0 lead. Brett Vertigan followed with a two-run single to right to make it a 3-0 lead and Melvin Mercedes added an RBI single to run the Stockton lead to 4-0.
The Quakes cut their deficit to a run in the ensuing half-inning. Delvis Morales reached to open the inning on a throwing error committed by Ports starter Casey Meisner. Tim Locastro and Johan Mieses followed with back-to-back singles, with Mieses' driving in Morales to cut the Ports lead to 4-1. Three batters later, Paul Hoenecke delivered a two-run single to right that cut the Stockton lead to a run at 4-3.
The three runs in the third were the only runs allowed by Meisner, who received a no-decision after going 4.2 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits while walking one and striking out one.
Stockton rebuilt its lead in the bottom of the third. Jake Nottingham doubled to right to open the frame and Maricov followed by drawing a walk. Two batters later with runners at first and second. Branden Cogswell reached on a fielder's choice error committed by the second baseman Morales as he made an errant throw to the shortstop covering the second base bag on a grounder to the right side. The error allowed two runs to score to make it a 6-3 game. Cogswell would later score on an RBI single by Trent Gilbert to run the Stockton lead to 7-3.
Quakes starter Scott Barlow went two-and-two-thirds innings and allowed seven runs (four earned) on seven hits while walking two and striking out two.
Kyle Finnegan took over for Meisner and recorded the final out in the fifth and went on to pitch a scoreless sixth. In the seventh, however, the Quakes grabbed their first lead of the night. With oen out, Locastro doubled to right and Mieses followed with a single to left. After Cody Bellinger walked to load the bases, Finnegan was lifted for Joel Seddon, who gave up a grand slam to Jacob Scavuzzo that tied the game at 7-7. Two batters later, Tyler Ogle hit a solo home run that gave the Quakes an 8-7 lead.
Finnegan was charged with three runs over an inning-and-two-thirds, while Seddon allowed two runs in two-thirds of an inning of work.
The Ports tied the game in the bottom of the seventh facing Quakes reliever Kyle Hooper (0-1). Yairo Munoz started the inning with a double to right-center and Nottingham followed with an infield single. Three batters later with the bases loaded and one out, Cogswell reached on a fielder's choice force out at second base that tied the game at 8-8.
Rancho Cucamonga grabbed the lead back in the top of the eighth as Ports reliever Ben Bracewell (5-2) was greeted by a solo home run from Joey Curletta that gave the Quakes a 9-8 lead It was the only run allowed by Bracewell, who went on to be the winning pitcher despite allowing the eighth-inning tally.
Stockton came back with two runs in the bottom of the eighth. With Hooper on the mound, the Ports put runners at second and third with one out. Hooper was lifted for Dan Tillman, who gave up an infield RBI single to Munoz that tied the score at 9-9. After Nottingham was intentionally walked to load the bases, Marincov came up and delivered an RBI single to right that gave the Ports a 10-9 lead.
Both runs in the eighth inning were charged to Hooper, who suffered the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits in an inning-and-a-third.
Corey Walter (SV, 1) came on to pitch the ninth and set the side down in order while recording a pair of strikeouts to earn his first save of the season.
The Ports and Quakes play the second game of their four-game set on Friday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Raul Alcantara (0-1, 3.41 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Rancho Cucamonga right-hander Pablo Fernandez (0-0, 0.00 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.
California League Stories from August 7, 2015
- Three Homers Help Power JetHawks Win - Lancaster JetHawks
- San Jose Giants Homestand Preview: August 11 - August 16 - San Jose Giants
- Blaze Honor DeVry Student of the Month - Bakersfield Blaze
- Ports Prevail 10-9 to Snap Skid - Stockton Ports
- Giants Drop 15-Inning Marathon to Storm - San Jose Giants
- Storm Snap Streak, Bullpens Dominate - Inland Empire 66ers
- Visalia Opens Series with 15-3 Win over Sixers - Inland Empire 66ers
- Blaze Squelch Nuts, 1-0 - Bakersfield Blaze
- No Punch from Nuts in 1-0 Loss - Modesto Nuts
- Sixth-Inning Rally Keys Win over Mavs - Lancaster JetHawks
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.
