CalL1 Stockton Ports

Ports Prevail 4-3 in Extras

Published on June 24, 2018 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports continue to find new ways to win in 2018. The Ports escaped a bases-loaded jam with nobody out in the top of the 10th inning and went on to get a game-winning RBI single off the bat of Dairon Blanco in the bottom of the 10th to upend the Modesto Nuts by a final of 4-3 for their fourth straight win. With the victory, Stockton improves to 5-2 on the season in extra innings.

For a second straight night Modesto scored in the top of the first inning. Kevin Santa opened the game with a single to right and scored later in the inning on an RBI groundout by Luis Liberato to make it a 1-0 contest. Stockton countered in the bottom of the second as Luke Persico doubled with one out and scored on a two-out RBI single by Sandber Pimentel, who went 3-for-4 on the night.

Modesto grabbed the lead back in the top of the fourth as Joe Rizzo singled with one out, the start of the Nuts loading the bases with one out in the inning. Ryan Scott would drive Rizzo home with a sac-fly to center to give the Nuts a 2-1 advantage. The lead was short-lived again for Modesto as Jonah Heim reached on a fielding error by the second baseman Santa to start the fourth and Will Toffey followed with a two-run homer to left, his second home run in as many nights, to vault the Ports ahead 3-2.

Nuts starter Reggie McClain would not factor into the decision as he went six innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on nine hits while striking out three.

Stockton starter Dustin Hurlbutt would also be rendered a no-decision on the night after tossing five innings and allowing two runs on five hits while striking out five.

Ty Damron came on in the sixth to make his California League debut for the Ports and tossed two perfect innings, striking out the first four batters he faced to begin his outing. Andrew Tomasovich took over in the eighth and set the first two batters down to open the frame. Tomasovich, though, would surrender a two-out solo homer to Kyle Lewis that tied the game at 3-3. It was Lewis' second home run in as many games and the only batter Tomasovich allowed to reach base in his two innings of work.

Angel Duno (3-0) came on to pitch the 10th for Stockton and began the inning with the free runner at second base. After a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases with nobody out, Duno was able to induce a 1-2-3 double-play on a comebacker to the mound to stymie the Modesto momentum. Duno would get Evan White to fly out to center field to end the inning and escape the jam unscathed.

After two scoreless innings worked by Modesto reliever Wyatt Mills, Seth Elledge (3-1) took over in the bottom of the 10th and began the inning with Brallan Perez as the runner at second base. Blanco would deliver the game-winning single to open the frame, a sharp ground ball passed the shortstop to score Perez from second and give the Ports a 4-3 victory.

The Ports will try for a series sweep versus the Nuts as the teams close out their four-game set on Sunday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Right-hander Xavier Altamirano (0-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his California League debut for Stockton, as does left-hander Nick Wells (0-0, 0.00 ERA) for Modesto. First pitch is set for 6:10 p.m. PDT.

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California League Stories from June 24, 2018


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