CalL1 Stockton Ports

Ports Salvage Finale with 4-3 Win in Extras

Published on July 20, 2016 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports had lost six straight games to the Modesto Nuts and four straight extra-inning ballgames. Both streaks came to an end on Tuesday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Stockton rallied down two runs in the seventh to tie the game and went on to win it on a bases-loaded walk drawn by pinch-hitter John Nogowski in the 11th as the Ports beat the Nuts by a final of 4-3.

The Ports scored the first run of the contest in the third as James Harris hit a one-out double to right and scored on a clutch two-out single by B.J. Boyd to give the Ports a 1-0 lead.

Ports starter Casey Meisner, making his return to the starting rotation after seven relief appearances, was as sharp as he's been all season. Meisner retired 13 of the 14 batters he faced in 4.1 scoreless innings worked. The right-hander allowed one hit while striking out five without issuing a walk.

Joey Wagman took over for Meisner in the fifth and gave up back-to-back hits, a double to Dom Nunez and an RBI single to Collin Ferguson that tied the game at 1-1. Modesto took its first lead in the sixth. Max White doubled with one out and scored on an ensuing single by Wes Rogers to make it a 2-1 contest. It was the final run allowed by Wagman who pitched an inning-and-two-thirds and gave up four hits while striking out one.

Cody Stull took over in the seventh and after setting the first two batters down, hit Ferguson with a pitch. Ferguson went on to steal second and score on a two-out single by Luis Jean to make it a 3-1 Modesto advantage. It was the only run allowed by Stull in two innings of work. After the Jean single, Stockton pitching combined to retire 14 of the final 15 batters they faced.

Nuts starter Ryan Castellani induced three double-playas over the first five innings and pitched around an error that started the sixth. Castellani, though, issued back-to-back walks to start the seventh. With one out, Melvin Mercedes brought both runners home with a triple to left field that tied the game at 3-3. Castellani would be lifted with two outs in the seventh. He did not factor into the decision, going six-and-two-thirds innings and allowing three runs on six hits while striking out four and walking a season-high six.

Logan Cozart finished the seventh and then ran into trouble in the eighth. Cozart gave up a leadoff double to Joe Bennie. Sandber Pimentel followed with a single to left-center on which Bennie went to third. Pimentel, however, tried to take second base after the throw was dropped by the cutoff man on the infield and was tagged out. With Mikey White batting, Ports manager Rick Magnante called for a suicide squeeze. White got a pitch out of the zone and was unable to make contact as Bennie was left to be tagged out at home plate for the second out. White would go on to strike out, the start of seven in a row set down by Cozart to take him through the 10th inning and complete his outing.

Lou Trivino set the side down in order in the ninth and Carlos Navas (3-5) did the same in the 10th. Navas would pitch around a two-out single and go on to strike out the side in the 11th. He would pick up the win as he recorded five strikeouts in two scoreless frames.

Luis Niebla (1-1) took over for Cozart in the 11th and gave up a leadoff single to Bennie. After Pimentel hit into a fielder's choice groundout, White singled to right to put runners at the corners with one out. Jose Brizuela would be intentionally walked to load the bases. Magnante then went to his bench and called upon Nogowski to pinch-hit for Iolana Akau. Nogowsi would fall behind 0-2, but worked the count full and took a pitch off the outer half for ball four that forced in Pimentel with the winning run from third.

Niebla suffered the loss as he allowed two hits in the process of allowing the winning run to score in the 11th.

After going 3-4 on their seven-game homestand, the Ports embark on a seven-game road trip beginning with a four-game set in Visalia on Thursday following the day off on Wednesday. Heath Fillmyer (5-6, 3.60) starts the series opener for Stockton. First pitch at Recreation Ballpark is set for 7 p.m. PDT. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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California League Stories from July 20, 2016


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