Stockton Starts Second Half with 5-4 Win
June 22, 2018 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports rode one big inning to a win on Thursday night at Banner Island Ballpark. The Ports scored four runs in the fourth inning and Stockton's bullpen made a one-run advantage hold up down the stretch as they opened the second half of the season with a 5-4 win over the Modesto Nuts.
The Ports opened the scoring in the first inning on a two-out solo homer by Nate Mondou. Modesto tied the score in the third as Nick Thurman singled to open the inning and scored on an ensuing double by Kevin Santa that tied the game at 1-1.
Stockton took the lead for good in their four-run fourth inning. With one out, Will Toffey drew a walk, Luke Persico followed with a single and Luis Barrera drove them both home with a triple to right field that gave the Ports a 3-1 lead. Two batters later with two outs, Collin Theroux walked to put two on and Brallan Perez and Dairon Blanco had back-to-back RBI singles to make it a 5-1 advantage.
Beginning with the final out of the fourth inning, Nuts pitching retired 13 consecutive batters to close out the contest. Modesto starter Ljay Newsome (4-4) suffered the loss after allowing five runs on eight hits in five innings. Danny Garcia came on in relief and pitched three perfect innings beginning in the sixth.
Ports starter Matt Milburn (4-2) gave up a leadoff single to Evan White in the sixth. Two batters later, Nick Zammarelli singled and Joe Rizzo singled to load the bases with one out. Ryan Scott followed with another single to drive in a run and cut the Ports lead to 5-2. Milburn was lifted at that point for Will Gilbert, who gave up a two-run single to Nick Thurman that drew Modesto to within a run at 5-4. Gilbert, though, would get back-to-back groundouts to avoid further damage and preserve the lead.
Milburn would go on to pick up the win as he went 5.1 innings and allowed four runs on 10 hits while striking out three. Gilbert gave up a single and a walk to open the seventh inning but would get a groundout followed by back-to-back strikeouts with runners at second and third to keep the one-run advantage intact.
Sam Sheehan pitched around a one-out double by Thurman in the eighth inning as he struck out the side in his lone inning of work. Angel Duno (SV, 6) set the side down in order in the ninth to notch his sixth save of the season.
With the win, the Ports improved to 14-7 in one-run ballgames on the season.
The Ports and Nuts play the second game of their four-game set on Friday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Left-hander Zack Erwin (5-5, 4.59 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Modesto right-hander Colin Rodgers (2-2, 4.21 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.
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