CalL1 Stockton Ports

Rawhide Roll Late, Beat Ports 9-3

July 30, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Visalia Rawhide scored six runs over the final three innings on Friday night to even a four-game series with the Stockton Ports at a game apiece. The Rawhide got late home runs from Austin Byler and Socrates Brito as the Ports fell by a final of 9-3 at Banner Island Ballpark.

Stockton's lone scoring inning came in the second. Joe Bennie and Sandber Pimentel opened the frame with back-to-back singles and Mikey White was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Seth Brown came up next and hit a one-hopper that went off the glove of shortstop Robelys Reyes, an error that allowed Bennie to score and make it a 1-0 game. Two batters later, Argenis Raga singled to right to bring in a second run and James Harris followed with a sac-fly to right to give Stockton a 3-0 lead.

Visalia came right back and tied the game in the ensuing half-inning. Ports starter Kyle Friedrichs (3-4) issued a leadoff walk to Joe Munoz. With one out, Reyes and Colin Bray hit back-to-back RBI doubles to cut the Rawhide deficit to a run. Victor Reyes added an RBI single to center that tied the game at 3-3.

The contest remained tied going into the seventh inning. Friedrichs came out to start the inning and allowed a leadoff single to Chad Oberacker and then walked Munoz, at which point he was lifted for Cody Stull. Stull walked Michael Perez to load the bases and then Robelys Reyes hit a sac-fly to right to give the Rawhide a 4-3 lead. After Bray walked to load the bases again, Victor Reyes grounded out to drive in Munoz and make it a 5-3 Visalia advantage.

Both runs in the seventh inning were charged to Friedrichs, who suffered his third consecutive loss after going six-plus innings and allowing five runs on six hits while walking two and striking out four.

Stull stayed in to pitch the eighth inning and gave up a leadoff home run to Byler to make it 6-3. After retiring the next two batters, Stull gave up a single to Munoz and then was lifted for Victor Veliz. After a stolen base and throwing error put Munoz at third, Veliz walked Perez to put runners at the corners. Perez would go on to steal second and the throw down by Raga was not in time, allowing Munoz to score down the third base line and make it a 7-3 contest.

Both runs in the eighth inning were charged to Stull, who allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits over an inning-and-two-thirds.

Veliz would pitch the ninth and, with one on and one out, surrender a two-run homer to Brito that ran the Rawhide lead to 9-3. They were the only runs allowed by Veliz in an inning-and-a-third.

Visalia's bullpen would combine to pitch four scoreless innings in relief of starter Brad Keller, who received a no-decision after allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits in five innings pitched.

Gabriel Moya (4-0) pitched two innings and struck out three as he went on to pick up the victory. Bud Jeter and Yuhei Nakaushiro each tossed a scoreless frame for the Rawhide.

Stockton and Visalia play the third game of their four-game set on Saturday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Matt Sergey (0-0, 5.54 ERA) makes the start for the Ports, opposed by Rawhide right-hander Justin Donatella (3-1, 2.25 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.

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California League Stories from July 30, 2016


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