Stockton's Late Push Falls Short in 7-5 Loss
July 2, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. - For a second straight night, the Stockton Ports saw a late surge come up short. The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes built a 7-2 lead and saw Stockton score three runs over the final two innings. The Ports, though, left the tying runners in scoring position in the ninth as they dropped their fifth straight contest by a final of 7-5.
Stockton built an early 2-0 lead in the first inning while facing Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu (1-1) on a Major League rehab assignment. Ryu allowed two runs on four hits in the first as Joe Bennie and John Nogowski each had RBI singles.
After facing eight batters and struggling through the first inning, Ryu retired 11 batters in a row beginning with the final two outs of the first. After the first inning, Ryu allowed just an infield single to begin the fifth before setting down five of the final six batters he faced to complete his outing. He would earn the win in his fifth rehab start with the Quakes, going six strong innings and allowing two runs on five hits while striking out three and not issuing a walk.
Rancho Cucamonga got to Ports starter Zack Erwin (3-8) beginning in the second. With two on and one out, Michael Ahmed lined an RBI single to right-center to cut the Ports lead to 2-1. With runners at the corners and one out, Joey Curletta grounded out to produce the game-tying run. Julian Leon followed with a two-run homer to left that gave the Quakes the lead at 4-2.
Erwin hit Tim Locastro and gave up a single to Edwin Rios to put two aboard to start the third. Matt Beaty and Donavan Tate each added to the Quakes lead with back-to-back RBI singles to make it a 6-2 advantage.
Erwin would pitch through the third but go no further. He suffered the loss after allowing six runs on six hits over three innings.
Victor Veliz took over in the fourth and, with two outs, gave up a double to Locastro. Rios would follow and reach on a fielding error committed by the first baseman Nogowski on which Locastro would score to make it 7-2. The run was unearned for Veliz and the only run he allowed in two innings of relief.
Cody Stull and Carlos Navas combined for three scoreless innings of relief down the stretch for Stockton.
David Reid-Foley took over for the Quakes in the seventh and set the side down in order. In the eighth, Reid-Foley gave up a leadoff single to James Harris and then walked Richie Martin. After an error committed by second baseman Erick Mejia loaded the bases, Bennie hit into a fielder's choice play to produce a run to make it 7-3. Seth Brown followed and hit a line drive to left that was dropped by the left fielder Curletta, a sac-fly error that allowed Martin to score from third. With two on and one out, Reid-Foley would escape further trouble by getting back-to-back strikeouts of Nogowski and Iolana Akau to end the inning.
Kevin Brown (SV, 1) took over in the ninth to try for the save. After getting Mikey White to line out, Brown issued three straight walks to load the bases. After getting B.J. Boyd to strike out for the second out, Brown uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Melvin Mercedes to score from third and advance the possible-tying runs into scoring position. Brown, however, would strike out Bennie looking to end the ballgame and earn his first California League save.
The Ports and Quakes play the third game of their four-game series on Saturday night at Loan Mart Field. Heath Fillmyer (4-5, 3.20 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Rancho Cucamonga right-hander Grant Holmes (6-3, 3.24 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.
California League Stories from July 2, 2016
- Jethawks Winning Streak Snapped At Five - Lancaster JetHawks
- High Desert Wins on Late Runs - Inland Empire 66ers
- Stockton's Late Push Falls Short in 7-5 Loss - Stockton Ports
- Six Run Seventh Gives San Jose 10-5 Win - Visalia Rawhide
- Busted Nuts Fall in Laugher - Bakersfield Blaze
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