Ports Win 10-8 Thriller in Series Finale
August 12, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
MODESTO, Calif. - The Stockton Ports and Modesto Nuts had a riveting end to their season series on Thursday night at John Thurman Field. The Ports built a five-run lead and were able to hang on as Modesto put the tying runners in scoring position with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and Cody Stull (SV, 3) slammed the door as the Ports went on to a 10-8 win. With the victory, the Ports also earned a season-series victory as they took 14 of the 27 games played versus Modesto on the season.
The two teams were throwing punches early as Stockton opened the scoring in the top of the first on a two-out RBI single by Sandber Pimentel. Modesto countered in the bottom of the first with four runs on six hits off Stockton starter Grant Holmes (9-5). Forrest Wall doubled with one out and scored on an ensuing two-run homer by Josh Fuentes to give the Nuts a 2-1 lead. Later in the inning with two on and two out, Holmes threw a wild pitch that allowed Ryan Stephens to score from third and make it 3-1. Drew Weeks added a two-out RBI single that gave the Nuts a 4-1 advantage after one inning.
The Ports came right back in the top of the second to tie the score. John Nogowski led off with a home run to left, his sixth of the season. Mikey White followed and was hit by a pitch and scored on an ensuing triple by Seth Brown to make it 4-3. Brown scored on an RBI groundout by Richie Martin that tied the game at 4-4.
Stockton's biggest inning of the night came in the third facing Nuts starter Christian Tally (0-1), who was making his California League debut. Stockton loaded the bases to start the inning on a pair of singles and a hit batter. With one out, Martin stepped to the plate and delivered a grand slam to left, his second home run of the season, Stockton's second grand slam in a week and third of the season. The slam broke the tie and gave the Ports an 8-3 lead. After back-to-back singles by Argenis Raga and Melvin Mercedes, Tally was lifted for Colin Welmon, who gave up a single to B.J. Boyd that loaded the bases again. Two batters later with two outs, Pimentel drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the fifth run of the frame and make it a 9-4 Ports advantage.
Tally suffered the loss, going two-and-a-third innings in his debut and allowing nine runs on 10 hits.
Modesto got two runs back in the bottom of the third. With two outs and Shane Hoelscher at third, Weeks delivered an infield RBI single to make it a 9-5 game. Weeks scored on an ensuing RBI single by Max White to make it 9-6. Those were the final two runs allowed by Holmes, who earned his first win as an A's farmhand after going five innings and allowing six runs on a career-high 12 hits while striking out three.
Stockton's final run of the game came in the fourth when Brown singled with one out and scored two batters later on an RBI single by Raga to run the Ports lead to 10-6. It was the only run allowed by Welmon, who pitched three-and-two-thirds innings in relief and allowed five hits while striking out six.
Max Schuh and Marc Magliaro combined for three scoreless innings of relief down the stretch for the Nuts.
Joey Wagman took over for Stockton in the sixth and allowed back-to-back singles to Wall and Wes Rogers to open the inning. Fuentes came up with runners at second and third and struck out but reached on a wild pitch that allowed Rogers to score from third. Modesto added a run later in the inning on an RBI single by Nunez that cut the Ports lead to 10-8.
Wagman went two innings and allowed two runs on three hits while striking out two.
Stull took over in the eighth and pitched around a one-out single. In the ninth, Nunez reached on a fielding error committed by the first baseman Pimentel. Weeks followed with a single that put runners at the corners. After back-to-back pop-outs were induced by Stull, Rogers came to the plate and put up an 11-pitch at-bat that ended with Stull striking him out on a 3-2 pitch to end the ballgame. During the sequence, Weeks stole second meaning that a base hit to the outfield likely would have tied the game.
Stull earned his third save of the season while pitching two scoreless frames.
After going 4-3 on their seven-game road trip to San Jose and Modesto, the Ports return home to begin a three-game series with the High Desert Mavericks. Brett Graves (7-8, 4.87 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by High Desert left-hander Jeffrey Springs (2-1, 5.70 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
California League Stories from August 12, 2016
- Rawhide to Host 1st Annual Hitting Challenge for Local HS Talent - Visalia Rawhide
- Jethawks Take Rubber Game at I.E. - Lancaster JetHawks
- Ports Win 10-8 Thriller in Series Finale - Stockton Ports
- Joel Payamps Fires Seven Shutout Frames in 4-0 Rawhide Win - Visalia Rawhide
- Early Offense Sinks Nuts in 10-8 Loss - Modesto Nuts
- Rawhide Get Revenge & Take Series - Bakersfield Blaze
- Quakes Offense Shut Down in Loss to Storm - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
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