CalL1 Stockton Ports

Ports Survive Collapse, Win 6-5 in 10

Published on June 10, 2018 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports avoided their first series sweep of the season in thrilling fashion on Sunday afternoon at Banner Island Ballpark. The Ports saw a 4-0 lead evaporate and fell behind for the first time in extra innings but went on to rally for two runs down to their final out in the 10th to earn a 6-5 win over the Visalia Rawhide to reduce their magic number to clinch a First Half title to two games.

The Ports scored first for the first time in the series as they plated a run in the first inning. Kevin Merrell singled to open the inning and scored on a two-out RBI single by Will Toffey. The Ports would go on to load the bases with two outs but Visalia starter Tyler Keele would escape the inning without further damage.

Stockton added to its lead in the third inning. Nate Mondou led off with a double and Skye Bolt clubbed a two-run homer to right to make it a 3-0 game. In the fifth, Mondou led off with a single to right and Bolt drew a walk to chase Keele from the ballgame. Miguel Aguilar came on and would give up a sac-fly to Toffey later in the inning that ran the Ports lead to 4-0.

Keele would not factor into the decision after going four-plus innings and allowing four runs in seven hits while striking out four. Aguilar would not allow a run of his own in his lone inning of work.

Ports starter Evan Manarino kept Visalia out of the run column through his first five innings. In the sixth, Manarino would surrender a solo home run to Camden Duzenak that cut the Ports lead to 4-1. It was the only run allowed by Manarino who was in line to get the win but was rendered a no-decision as he went six innings and allowed five hits while striking out four.

Peter Bayer took over for Stockton in the seventh and made both his California League debut and his debut as an Oakland A's farmhand after being acquired by the A's in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays earlier in the week. Bayer would issue back-to-back walks to Luis Lara and Mark Karaviotis before being lifted for Angel Duno, who surrendered a three-run homer to Ryan Grotjohn that tied the game at 4-4. Two of the runs were charged to Bayer while Duno was charged with one run. The home run was the only hit allowed by Duno in his lone inning of work.

The game remained tied 4-4 going to extra innings with neither side posing a significant threat in the eighth and ninth innings. Miguel Romero (1-2) came back to pitch the 10th after tossing a scoreless ninth and, after giving up a one-out single, had runners at the corners with one out. Lara would deliver a single to right that scored Duzenak and gave Visalia its first lead of the day at 5-4. Romero, with runners at first and second and one out, would get back-to-back strikeouts to avoid further damage.

Tommy Eveld (1-1) would also come back for the 10th inning after working a scoreless ninth. With Brallan Perez at third base and the Ports down to their final out, Luke Persico laced a double down the left field line that scored Perez and tied the game at 5-5. With Persico at second base, Luis Barrera would come up next and deliver the game-winning single on a bouncing ball up the middle and into center field. Persico slid across home plate ahead of the throw with the game-winning run as the Ports avoided matching their longest losing skid of the season.

Eveld suffered his first loss of the season for Visalia while Romero picked up his first win for Stockton.

The Ports continue their homestand on Monday night as they welcome the San Jose Giants to Banner Island Ballpark to open a four-game set. Parker Dunshee (5-2, 2.56 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by San Jose left-hander Conner Menez (2-4, 4.76 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.

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California League Stories from June 10, 2018


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