CalL1 Stockton Ports

Storm Slug Their Way To 8-7 Win Over Ports

Published on June 28, 2008 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Friday night's game between the Stockton Ports and Lake Elsinore Storm can be likened to a great movie with a lousy ending. In a contest that featured eight total home runs, the game was decided on defensive miscues in the eighth--an inning in which the Ports committed three errors and allowed the go-ahead run to score for the Storm as Lake Elsinore took the second game of a four game set by a final of 8-7. It was just the third win in the last 14 games for the Storm.

The tone of the game was set in the bottom of the second. With one on and two out Jermaine Mitchell homered to right, giving the Ports a 2-0 lead.

Lake Elsinore got a run back in the top of the third off Ports starter Craig Italiano, who was making his High-A Debut. With Javis Diaz at second, Cedric Hunter singled to right to cut the Ports lead to 2-1.

In the bottom of the third, Josh Horton knocked his first homer of the season--a solo shot to right off Storm starter Ernesto Frieri giving Stockton a 3-1 edge. Lake Elsinore, however, fired back in the top of the fourth. Following a leadoff double from Brian Joynt, Kellen Kulbacki knocked the first of his two home runs on the night--a two-run blast to straight away center tying the game at three.

Those were the final runs allowed by Italiano, who threw 70 pitches in his Ports debut and received a no-decision, going four innings and allowing three runs on six hits while striking out two.

The Ports once again took the lead in the fourth. With one down, Frank Martinez hit a solo homer to right to make it 4-3. The Storm would follow with their largest inning of the night in the top of the fifth. With reliever Derrick Gordon on the hill and a man at first, Mitch Canham homered to right to give the Storm a 5-4 lead. Two batters later, Kulbacki hit his second home run in as many at-bats to make it 6-4 in favor of Lake Elsinore. Gordon lasted just two-thirds of an inning and allowed three runs on two homers. Pat Currin would come on in relief of Gordon, and in his first start back from Double-A Midland, Currin yielded a solo homer to Eric Sogard in the sixth to give the Storm a 7-4 lead.

Stockton fought back in the bottom of the sixth. With one on and two out, Martinez delivered his second home run of the night--a two-run shot to right to bring the Ports to within a run at 7-6. It was the knock-out blow for Frieri, who received a no-decision after going 5.2 innings and allowing six runs (all on home runs ) on six hits while striking out six.

The Ports got the equalizer in the seventh. With storm reliever Chris Shaver on the hill and one out in the seventh, pinch-hitter Mike Massaro lined a triple to right. Archie Gilbert brought him home with a sac-fly to center, tying the game at seven.

In the top of the eighth, however, the Ports let the game slip away. With two out and nobody on, Ports reliever Jose Rojas (0-1) induced a ground ball off the bat of Sam Carter. Martinez, the second baseman, threw wide of first and the ball bounced up into the stands. Rojas was lifted for James Heuser, who hit Canham to begin his outing. Heuser then threw over to first in a pick-off attempt, and threw the ball into right field. Carter scored from second, and another error on Martinez allowed Canham to reach third. Carter's run gave the Storm an 8-7 lead, and the unearned run was charged to Rojas, who wound up with the loss despite not allowing a hit.

Lake Elsinore's bullpen held strong down the stretch. Rolando Valdez (1-2) picked up the win after recording the final two outs in the seventh. Wilton Lopez (SV, 1) earned his first save by retiring the final six batters of the game in order.

Stockton and Lake Elsinore will play Game 3 of their four game set on Saturday at Banner Island Ballpark. Jason Fernandez (7-4, 3.84 ERA) will take the hill for the Ports, opposed by right-hander Corey Kluber (2-4, 5.63 ERA) for the Storm. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.

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California League Stories from June 28, 2008


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