Sweep Hopes Dashed as Ports Fall 5-3
August 6, 2018 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
VISALIA, Calif. - The Stockton Ports dropped the final game of their three-game series with the Visalia Rawhide on Sunday night, coming up short of completing what would've been their fifth series sweep of the season. Visalia plated a pair of unearned runs that proved to be the difference in a 5-3 decision at Recreation Ballpark as the Ports dropped their first game on a six-game road trip.
Stockton opened the scoring in the top of the first and took advantage of a Visalia miscue. Chase Calabuig singled with one out and advanced to second on a bobble in right field by Luis Silverio Luke Persico followed with an RBI single to center that gave the Ports an early 1-0 advantage.
Ports starter Kyle Friedrichs (1-2), with two on and two out in the second, gave up an RBI single to Silverio that tied the game at 1-1. With runners then at the corners, Friedrichs balked to bring in a second run to give the Rawhide the lead for good and make it a 2-1 ballgame.
Friedrichs escaped a bases loaded jam with nobody out in the fourth inning but fell victim to the first of two Ports errors on the night in the fifth. With a runner at first and two out, Renae Martinez hit a fly ball to left that left fielder Greg Deichmann missed, allowing Mark Karaviotis to score from first and make it a 3-1 game.
Friedrichs would suffer the loss, going five innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out five.
Pat Krall took over for the Ports in the sixth and saw Pavin Smith reach on a throwing error committed by Persico to start the inning. Ramon Hernandez followed with a two-run homer to center that stretch the Rawhide lead to 5-1. Krall would go two innings and allow two runs (one earned) on two hits.
Visalia starter Riley Smith (6-5) pitched into the seventh inning and gave up three straight singles to open the frame, the last one hit by Santiago Chavez on which Cobie Vance tried to score from second and was thrown out by Silverio in right. Smith was lifted at that point for Breckin Williams, who set down back-to-back hitters to extinguish the Stockton rally.
Smith would earn the win, going 6 1/3 innings and allowing just the unearned run on 10 hits while striking out seven. Williams would go on to pitch a perfect 1 2/3 innings.
Carlos Bustamante took over for Visalia in the ninth and set the first two batters down to open the frame. Collin Theroux would strike out but reach on a wild pitch to prolong the game for Chavez, who hit a two-run homer to left to make it 5-3. Bustamante, though, would strike out Trace Loehr to end the game, preventing the possible-tying run from coming to the plate.
Following a day off on Monday, the Ports continue their road trip as they open a three-game series with the Modesto Nuts on Tuesday at John Thurman Field. Xavier Altamirano (3-3, 6.45 ERA) makes the start in the series opener for Stockton, opposed by Modesto right-hander Darren McCaughan (5-8, 3.34 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.
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California League Stories from August 6, 2018
- Hunter Strickland Scheduled to Make Rehab Appearance in San Jose - San Jose Giants
- Smith Delivers to Close out Homestand - Visalia Rawhide
- Sweep Hopes Dashed as Ports Fall 5-3 - Stockton Ports
- Lancaster Wins Wild One, Completes Sweep - Lancaster JetHawks
- JetHawks Complete Sweep of Quakes on Sunday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Giants Fall 6-4, Swept Again by Storm - San Jose Giants
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