CalL1 Stockton Ports

Ports Sweep Rawhide on Parker's Home Run

Published on July 17, 2010 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports (43-49) struggled mightily against the Visalia Rawhide (48-44) in the first half, posting just a 4-15 record against them. But the Ports found great success against the Rawhide in the second half, and completed a sweep of the Rawhide on Friday night with a 7-5 win at Banner Island Ballpark.

The last time the Ports swept an opponent was on June 7-10, when they took four games from Bakersfield at home. This was their second sweep of the season, and their fifth win in their last six games.

Stephen Parker sealed the win and the sweep with a three-run shot in the seventh inning off Ryan Robowski. Brett Tomko had a solid start, allowing five runs on seven hits (including two home runs) in 5.0 innings with three strikeouts. Lance Sewell picked up his sixth win, tossing 3.0 hitless and scoreless frames. Sewell hasn't allowed an earned run in his last 16.1 innings, and has allowed just four hits in that span. Paul Smyth collected his 15th save on the year as well. Robowski took the loss for Visalia.

Visalia took a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Dan Kaczrowski and Alfredo Marte singled off Tomko to start the game. Left fielder Marc Krauss hit an RBI single to put the Rawhide ahead, 1-0. First baseman Paul Goldschmidt then stepped up to the plate and launched a three-run home run over the Jackson Rancheria Back Porch in right field on a 2-2 pitch to make it 4-0.

Tomko then retired the next eight batters he faced, before giving up another single to Goldschmidt. He shutout the Rawhide until the fifth inning, when Krauss hit his 17th home run of the year over the Food 4 Less sign in left-center field.

Meanwhile, the Ports chipped away at the Visalia lead. Designated hitter David Thomas hit a triple in his first at-bat in the second inning. Catcher Ryan Ortiz brought him home with an RBI single to left field to make it 4-1.

The Ports plated two more runs in the fourth to come within a run of Visalia. Second baseman Tyler Ladendorf doubled to left-center field to start the inning. He moved to third as left fielder Todd Johnson singled. Thomas hit an RBI single to score Ladendorf. Ortiz hit a sacrifice fly to Alberto Diaz in right field to allow Johnson to score the third Stockton run.

The Ports entered the bottom of the seventh inning down 5-3. Ortiz walked to lead off the inning, and advanced to third on a double to left by Jermaine Mitchell. Ortiz scored on an RBI single by Grant Green. Parker then stepped up to the plate and took a 2-1 pitch yard to center field for a three-run shot. It was his twelfth homer of the year and his second three-run home run on the year.

Sewell and Smyth combined to toss two perfect innings in the eighth and ninth to preserve the 7-5 victory and complete the sweep.

The Ports will take on the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes for the first time this season in a three-game series starting Saturday. LHP Fabian Williamson (0-0, 7.45) will take the mound for Stockton, while LHP Manny Flores (3-5, 4.58) will start for Rancho Cucamonga. The game on Saturday will begin at 7:05 PM PST. Fans can follow the game live on KWSX 1280 AM.

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California League Stories from July 17, 2010


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