Soto's Homer Lifts Ports Past JetHawks 5-4
July 25, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
LANCASTER, Calif. - It took just one big hit for the Stockton Ports to even their series with the Lancaster JetHawks on Friday night at The Hangar. Michael Soto came up with two on and two out in the sixth and hit a three-run homer that gave the Ports a 5-4 lead and ultimately a win by that same final as Stockton's bullpen worked the final four innings preserving the one-run advantage.
Before the Ports surged ahead in the sixth, the JetHawks scored a run in four consecutive innings beginning in the second. In the second with runners at the corners and two outs, Ports catcher Jake Nottingham was charged with a passed ball that allowed the first run of the game to score. In the third, Derek Fisher hit a leadoff triple and scored on an ensuing sac-fly by Jamie Ritchie to make it 2-0. J.D. Davis led off the fourth with a single, stole second and scored on an RBI single two batters later by Brian Holberton.
The first three JetHawks runs (two earned) were allowed by Ports starter Matt Stalcup, who received a no-decision after going four innings and allowing six hits while striking out six.
JetHawks starter Francis Martes, making his California League debut, was razor sharp through four innings as he allowed just one hit in that span while striking out six. In the fifth, however, Martes allowed a leadoff single to Nottingham and then walked B.J. Boyd. Two batters later, Beau Taylor drove in the first Stockton run with an RBI single to center and Melvin Mercedes followed with an RBI double to right to cut the JetHawks lead to 3-2. With runners at second and third and one out, Martes was able to induce a groundout and a strikeout to end the inning without any further damage.
The JetHawks got one of the runs back in the bottom of the fifth off Ports reliever Sam Bragg (5-2). With one out, Ritchie doubled to right and Chase McDonald followed with an RBI single to bring the Lancaster lead to 4-2. It was the only run allowed by Bragg, who went on to be the winning pitcher after two innings of work.
Martes began the sixth inning by allowing a leadoff single to Tyler Marincov. After recording back-to-back outs, Boyd extended the inning with a single to center and in doing so, chased Martes from the game. Troy Scribner (2-5) entered to face Soto, who hit a three-run homer to left-center to give the Ports their first lead at 5-4.
Two of the three runs that scored on the homer were charged to the ledger of Martes, who received a no-decision after going 5.2 innings in his debut, allowing a total of four runs on six hits while striking out nine.
Scribner suffered the loss as the go-ahead run on the homer was his responsibility. It was the only run he allowed in an inning-and-a-third of relief.
Stockton's bullpen would shut the JetHawks out down the stretch. Ben Bracewell took over for Bragg in the seventh and, after giving up back-to-back singles to open the inning, got Ritchie to line out to the second baseman Branden Cogswell which turned into a double-play as they doubled off the runner at second. Beginning with that twin-killing, Ports pitching retired eight batters in a row to close out the ballgame.
Joel Seddon pitched a perfect eighth inning while Brendan McCurry (SV, 20) entered to pitch the ninth and set the side down in order to record his league-leading 20th save of the season.
Tyler Brunnemann pitched the final two innings scoreless for the JetHawks.
The Ports and JetHawks play the third game of their four-game set on Saturday night at The Hangar. Right-hander and former JetHawk Daniel Mengden (6-6, 5.34 ERA) will make his first start for Stockton since being traded to the Athletics on Thursday. He'll be opposed by JetHawks right-hander Edison Frias (8-3, 4.01 ERA). First pitch is set for 6 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 July 25, 2015
- Mengden Masterful for Ports in 5-3 Win - Stockton Ports
- Bats Quiet against Former 'Hawk Mengden - Lancaster JetHawks
- Giants Bullpen Shines in 2-1 Victory - San Jose Giants
- Rancho Rips Inland Empire on Friday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Quakes Jump to Early Lead, Shine on Mound - Inland Empire 66ers
- Blaze Lose Pitchers' Duel - Bakersfield Blaze
- Sensational Senzatela Sparkles in Nuts 4-0 Success - Modesto Nuts
- Soto's Homer Lifts Ports Past JetHawks 5-4 - Stockton Ports
- Homer in Sixth Spoils Martes' Debut - Lancaster JetHawks
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