Ports Sweep JetHawks with 9-8 Victory
July 1, 2009 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
STOCKTON, Calif.- The Stockton Ports (28-48) followed up being swept by the San Jose Giants to start the second half with their first sweep of the season. The Ports defeated the Lancaster JetHawks (28-48), 9-8 in a nail-bitter game Tuesday at Banner Island Ballpark to secure the sweep.
The three-game series sweep also marked the longest winning streak the Ports have had at home. Justin Friend picked up his third save, striking out the side and getting out of bases-loaded jam in the ninth. Tyson Ross picked up his second win of the season, allowing six runs (four earned) on seven hits with seven strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work. Leonardo Espinal and Nick Walters also appeared in the game.
Right fielder Jermaine Mitchell led the team offensively, going 3x4 with two doubles, a triple and an RBI. Shortstop Michael Richard had three RBI in the game. First baseman Steve Kleen also collected two doubles in the contest.
The Ports were the first to score, taking a 2-0 lead in the first. Mitchell led off with a double to center field and advanced to third on an error by center fielder T.J. Steele. Mitchell scored on an RBI single by Richard. Kleen hit his first double of the night a few batters later to bring Richard home safely.
The Ports pulled ahead, 6-0, in the second frame. Left fielder Todd Johnson led off the inning and reached first safely on an error by Matt Weston. Matt Smith flew out for the first out of the inning, and third baseman Christian Vitters walked. Mitchell doubled again, and Johnson crossed home. A two-RBI single by Richard brought Vitters and Mitchell home as the fourth and fifth runs of the game. Second baseman Jemile Weeks hit into a fielder's choice, which put out Richard at second. Center fielder Grant Desme then doubled to left field to score Weeks. Kleen flew out to end the inning.
The JetHawks responded by plating their first run of the game in the top of the third. An RBI single by second baseman Craig Corrado scored third baseman David Flores.
In the bottom of the fourth, Jemile Weeks slammed a triple, which scored Mitchell, to make it 7-1.
But Lancaster came roaring back in the fifth, scoring five runs. Designated hitter Marcos Cabral led off the inning with a single and Flores followed him on board with a single. Chris Jackson then struck out and T.B. Shuck hit into a fielder's choice, forcing out Flores. With two out and runners on the corners, Corrado collected his second RBI of the night with a single. Right fielder Brandon Barnes then slammed a three-run home run to make it 7-5. Steele then singled, and came around to score when catcher Koby Clemens reached first and second on an error by Michael Richard. Ross got Weston to ground out to end the inning, but the JetHawks had made it a 7-6 contest.
The Ports added their final two runs of the night in the bottom of the fifth. Kleen led off with a double, and scored on a double by Johnson. Johnson scored on Vitters' lone hit of the contest, to give Stockton a 9-6 lead.
The Ports were kept hitless until the eighth inning when Mitchell doubled. But while the Stockton bats went quiet, the Lancaster offense still plugged away.
The JetHawks made it 9-7 in the seventh frame. Shuck singled to lead off the inning. Barnes was hit by a pitch, and advanced to second on a single by Steele. Shuck scored as Clemens hit into a fielder's choice that put out Steele at second. The Ports got Weston to hit into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
Things got interesting in the ninth frame. With a two-run lead, the Ports gave up a lead-off single to Barnes. Friend then struck out Steele but then hit Clemens on the hand. Clemens left the game with the injury and was replaced on the basepaths by Jonathan Fixler. Weston then hit an RBI single to make it 9-8. Friend struck out Cabral, and then struck out Flores. But the ball went wild past catcher Yusuf Carter, and Flores made it to first safely to load the bases with two out. Gabe Suarez, who entered the game in the bottom of the eighth at shortstop for Jackson, struck out to end the game and to give Friend his fourth strikeout of the inning.
The Ports will take on their arch-rival, the San Jose Giants, in a three-game series starting Wednesday. Game 1 will begin at 7:05 p.m. at Banner Island Ballpark. RHP Craig Italiano (5-6, 6.08) will take the hill for the Ports, while the Giants will have LHP Craig Clark (7-2, 3.01) on the mound.
California League Stories from July 1, 2009
- Only Standing Room Tickets Available for July 3 Game, Fireworks Extravaganza - Stockton Ports
- Independence Day Celebration Highlights San Jose Giants Homestand Preview: July 4th - 9th - San Jose Giants
- San Jose Giants at Stockton Ports, July 1-3 - San Jose Giants
- Giants Explode In Late Innings To Rout Modesto, 13-1 - San Jose Giants
- Ports Sweep JetHawks with 9-8 Victory - Stockton Ports
- JetHawks Rally Falls Just Short in 9-8 Loss - Lancaster JetHawks
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