CalL1 Stockton Ports

Rawhide Complete Sweep, Down Ports 8-2

August 6, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


VISALIA, Calif. - The Stockton Ports completed a forgettable road trip on Wednesday night at Recreation Ballpark. The Ports were sept by the Visalia Rawhide as they lost Wednesday by a final of 8-2, completing a road trip on which they went 1-6.

Visalia scored the first two runs in the second inning off Ports starter Daniel Mengden (3-3). Alex Glenn and Gerson Montilla opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Two batters later, Kevin Medrano reached on an error committed by third baseman Melvin Mercedes that allowed Glenn to score and make it a 1-0 game. With runners at the corners, Visalia executed a double-steal in which Medrano stole second and on the throw down, Montilla came down the line to score and make it a 2-0 Rawhide lead.

The Ports scored their only runs of the game in the top of the third. Michael Soto led off with a single and, two batters later, Brett Vertigan doubled to right to put runners at second and third. Melvin Mercedes grounded out to second to bring in Soto and cut the deficit to 2-1. Yairo Munoz followed with an RBI single to tie the contest at 2-2.

Rawhide starter Brandon Sinnery (4-0) would go on to pitch with runners at the corners with one out in each of the next two innings, but record back-to-back strikeouts to end both frames and avoid any runs scoring.

Sinnery picked up the win, going five innings and allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out five.

Visalia reclaimed the lead quickly in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Kevin Cron singled to extend the inning. Glenn followed and struck out on a pitch in the dirt, but reached when Soto the first baseman failed to catch the throw from catcher Jake Nottingham, which allowed Cron to score to make it a 3-2 game.

Visalia's biggest inning came in the fourth. Jose Queliz homered to open the frame to stretch the lead to 4-2. Medrano and Mitch Hanniger followed with back-to-back singles. After Mengden recorded back-to-back outs, Daniel Palka hit an RBI double to left and Cron followed with a two-run single to left-center to stretch the Rawhide lead to 7-2.

Mengden was lifted after the Cron single and suffered the loss, going 3.2 innings and allowing seven runs (five earned) on 10 hits while striking out six.

Sam Bragg took over for Mengden and completed the fourth and set the side down in order in the fifth. With two outs and the bases empty in the sixth, Palka came up and struck out but reached on a wild pitch. He'd go on to steal second, advance to third on the throw down from Nottingham that wound up in center field, and scored on an RBI single by Cron, making it an 8-2 game. It was the only run allowed by Bragg in 2.1 innings of work.

Trevor Bayless pitched the final two innings for Stockton without allowing a run.

Cody Geyer pitched a scoreless sixth in relief of Sinnery in his California League debut. Johnny Shuttlesworth pitched two scoreless frames beginning in the seventh and J.R. Bradley set the side down in order in the ninth to close out the ballgame.

The Ports return home on Thursday to begin a four-game set with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. Casey Meisner (0-0, 7.36 ERA) makes his second start for Stockton since being traded from the New York Mets. He'll be opposed by Quakes right-hander Scott Barlow (4-2, 2.43 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.

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California League Stories from August 6, 2015


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