Stockton Left Stranded in 6-2 Loss to 66ers
April 12, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - The Stockton Ports left 13 baserunners stranded on Saturday night at San Manuel Stadium. Despite outhitting the Inland Empire 66ers 10 to six, the Ports were sent to their second straight loss, this time by a final of 6-2.
Stockton saw two quality scoring chances fall by the wayside over the first two innings as they stranded four baserunners in that span. Inland Empire, meanwhile, scored a run in each of the first two innings. Bo Way led off the bottom of the first with a home run off Ports starter Kyle Finnegan (0-1). After Finnegan retired the next four batters in a row, Kody Eaves singled with one out in the second. After Brandon Bayardi walked, Angel Rosa doubled to left to score Eaves and give the 66ers a 2-0 advantage.
After stranding another baserunner in the third, the Ports finally broke through in the fourth. With two on and two out, J.P. Sportman doubled to the gap in left-center to score Justin Higley and Branden Cogswell who'd both drawn walks earlier in the frame, tying the contest at 2-2.
Inland Empire took the lead right back in the last of the fourth. With one on and one out, Rosa hit a pop-up to first base foul territory that was dropped by Ports catcher Nick Rickles. With second life and a runner at second, Rosa lined an RBI single to left to make it a 3-2 66ers lead. After Rosa stole second base, Matt Koch drove him in with an RBI single to right to give the 66ers a 4-2 cushion.
Finnegan went on to retire the final four batters he faced to get through the fifth inning but suffered the loss on the night, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits while striking out four and walking three.
The Ports posed a big threat in the fifth inning as 66ers starter Harrison Cooney gave up a leadoff single to John Nogowski and a one-out double to Michael Soto. With two outs, Cooney issued a walk to Higley to load the bases and was then lifted for Michael Smith (1-0), who got Rickles to fly out to deep left field to end the inning.
Cooney would receive a no-decision, allowing two runs on five hits while walking five and striking out two in 4.2 innings of work.
Smith would pitch an inning-and-a-third scoreless for the 66ers and notch the victory.
Sam Bragg came on to pitch the sixth for Stockton and gave up a leadoff walk to Mike Fish, followed by a two-run homer to Eaves that ballooned the 66ers lead to 6-2. Bragg went on to retire the final six batters he faced over two innings of relief.
Geoff Broussard and Ryan Etsell combined to pitch the final three innings scoreless for Inland Empire. Jonathan Joseph tossed a perfect eighth for Stockton.
The Ports and 66ers play the finale of their four-game set on Sunday afternoon at San Manuel Stadium. Left-hander Dylan Overton (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will make the start for Stockton, opposed by 66ers right-hander Garrett Nuss (0-0, 0.00 ERA). First pitch is set for 2:05 p.m. PDT.
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California League Stories from April 12, 2015
- Ports Squander Chances in 5-2 Loss at 66ers - Stockton Ports
- Giants Fall 2-1, Split Opening Series in Lancaster - San Jose Giants
- Morales Sends 'Hawks to Win with Walk-Off Hit - Lancaster JetHawks
- Nuts Make It Interesting Late in 6-4 Loss - Modesto Nuts
- Marlette Slugs Blaze to 7-2 Win - Bakersfield Blaze
- Quakes Fall Short in Bako on Sunday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Stockton Left Stranded in 6-2 Loss to 66ers - Stockton Ports
- Rancho Rolls to 3-0 with Another Win over Blaze - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Giants Take Second Straight from JetHawks, 8-3 - San Jose Giants
- Blaze Bats Go Cold in 4-1 Defeat - Bakersfield Blaze
- JetHawks Drop Second Straight to Giants - Lancaster JetHawks
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