CalL1 Stockton Ports

Ports Sweep Twin-Bill, End Home Skid

Published on June 14, 2016 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports ended a 10-game home losing streak and won back-to-back games for the first time in nearly a month, and they accomplished both feats in one night at Banner Island Ballpark. Stockton won two seven-inning games over the Modesto Nuts on Monday night, taking the first by a final of 8-4 and the second in walk-off fashion by a final of 4-3.

The first game was started for Stockton by Henderson Alvarez on a Major League rehab assignment. The Ports built Alvarez an early lead with a four-run bottom of the first on a two-run double by Sandber Pimentel and a two-run single by John Nogowski. The Ports added to their lead in the second on a two-run homer by Joe Bennie to make it a 6-0 lead.

Alvarez, after escaping a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the second, yielded a one-out walk in the third followed by a two-run homer to Shane Hoelscher that cut the Ports lead to 6-2. Drew Weeks followed with a single and scored on a two-out single by Josh Fuentes to make it a 6-3 game.

Alvarez recorded the first out of the fourth inning but then was lifted for Joey Wagman (1-3), who got into and then out of a bases-loaded one-out jam. Alvarez did not factor into the decision as he went three-and-a-third innings and allowing three runs on six hits while walking one and striking out two. He threw 55 pitches, 41 for strikes.

Wagman gave up a leadoff walk in the fifth to Dom Nunez, who scored three batters later on an RBI groundout by Forrest Wall to cut the Ports lead to 6-4.

The Ports re-upped their lead in the fifth as they got back-to-back two-out RBI singles from Seth Brown and Iolana Akau off Nuts starter Parker French (2-5) to make it an 8-4 advantage. French would suffer the loss, going 4.2 innings and allowing eight runs (six earned) on eight while striking out five.

Wagman would pitch the final two innings without allowing a run and go on to earn his first win of the season, allowing one run on four hits over three-and-two-thirds innings.

In the second game of the doubleheader, Stockton opened the scoring with a two-out solo homer by Brown to jump out to the early lead in the second. Stockton made it a 3-0 advantage in the third when, with two on and two out, James Harris hit a pop-up to the infield that was missed by first baseman Colin Ferguson. The play had to be scored an infield single as Ferguson never got camped underneath the ball and two runs scored.

The first three Ports runs were charged to Nuts starter Helmis Rodriguez, who did not factor into the decision after allowing three runs on two hits over two-and-a-third innings.

Ports starter Heath Fillmyer kept Modesto out of the run column over the first four innings while striking out eight in that span. Troy Stein led off the fifth inning with a double and scored two batters later on an RBI groundout by Luis Jean to make it a 3-1.

Fillmyer went on to retire the final six batters he faced to get through the sixth inning and would be in lien for the win, but be rendered a no-decision. He allowed one run on two hits while striking out a career-high nine.

After Tyler Matzek kept Stockton out of the run column over two scoreless innings while striking out five, Modesto came to bat in the top of the seventh facing Koby Gauna (2-0). Gauna, in a save situation, issued a leadoff walk to Weeks and then gave up a game-tying two-run homer to Ferguson that knotted the game at 3-3.

Craig Schlitter (2-1) took over for Modesto in the bottom of the seventh and issued a one-out walk to Richie Martin. Melvin Mercedes came up next and hit a game-winning triple to the right field corner that gave the Ports a walk-off 4-3 victory.

Schlitter suffered the loss while Gauna, after suffering the blown save, picked up the victory.

The Ports and Nuts continue their series on Tuesday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Left-hander Matt Stalcup (2-0, 7.36 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Modesto right-hander Carlos Polanco (1-5, 5.20 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.

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California League Stories from June 14, 2016


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