Ports Trail Early, Rally for 9-7 Win
June 30, 2018 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports were down four runs before they came to bat on Friday night but went on to match their largest comeback of the season. Stockton pounded out 17 hits on its way to a 9-7 win over the Lancaster JetHawks to open a five-game series at Banner Island Ballpark.
Ports starter Xavier Altamirano (2-0) stumbled out of the gate as he gave up three straight singles to load the bases and then hit Vince Fernandez with a pitch that drove in the first run of the game. Tyler Nevin followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0. After a double-play yielded a run, Steven Linkous drove a two-out RBI double to center to score Fernandez and make it a 4-0 contest.
Stockton got two runs back in the bottom of the first versus JetHawks starter Brandon Gold (5-5). With one out, Dairon Blanco, Nate Mondou and Jonah Heim singled to load the bases and Luke Persico drove in the first Stockton run on a fielder's choice force play. Luis Barrera would add on with a two-out RBI single to make it a 4-2 game.
The JetHawks got a run back in the top of the second on three straight two-out singles, the last one off the bat of Fernandez to get the Lancaster lead to 5-2.
Heim drew the Ports to within a run in the third with a two-run homer to right to make it a 5-4 contest. Lancaster had another answer in the top of the fourth on a leadoff homer hit by Max George, his first of two on the night, to get the JetHawks lead to 6-4.
Stockton's biggest inning of the night came in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Blanco and Brallan Perez hit back-to-back singles and Mondou drove them both home with the first of two triples in the inning to tie the game at 6-6. Heim followed with an RBI single to score Mondou and give the Ports the lead for good. Persico came up next and tripled to right field to score Heim and give Stockton an 8-6 advantage.
Gold would suffer the loss for the JetHawks, going four innings and allowing eight runs on a career-high 13 hits while striking out three.
The Ports added to their lead in the fifth on an RBI single by Blanco off JetHawks reliever Salvador Justo to make it 9-6. It was the only run allowed by Justo in two innings of work.
Lancaster's final run of the night came on the second solo homer of the game hit by George off Altamirano in the sixth to make it a 9-7 contest. Altamirano, despite allowing a career-high 12 hits, would pick up the win after allowing seven runs while striking out three over 5.2 innings.
Stockton's bullpen locked down the lead as Pat Krall, Sam Sheehan and Angel Duno (SV, 8) combined for three-and-a-third scoreless innings while scattering two hits in that span. Duno, who worked the ninth, earned his eighth save of the season.
The Ports and JetHawks play the second game of their five-game set on Saturday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Left-hander Evan Manarino (1-1, 3.86 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by JetHawks right-hander Rico Garcia (7-7, 3.42 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.
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California League Stories from June 30, 2018
- Ports Trail Early, Rally for 9-7 Win - Stockton Ports
- Quakes Take Down Garrett Richards on Rehab, Win 4th Straight - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Three Arms Lead Way to 3-1 Win - Modesto Nuts
- 'Hawks Take Big Lead in First, Can't Hang On - Lancaster JetHawks
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