CalL1 Stockton Ports

Unearned Runs Hurts Ports in 4-1 Loss

June 15, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Stockton Ports right-hander Casey Meisner (0-11) was moved to the bullpen after suffering 10 straight losses. The move couldn't spare him from an 11th consecutive loss on Tuesday night at Banner Island Ballpark. The Stockton Ports committed four errors that led to three unearned runs in a 4-1 loss to the Modesto Nuts on Tuesday after sweeping a doubleheader on Monday night.

Stockton starter Matt Stalcup, making his first start of the season, was outstanding. Stalcup tossed four scoreless innings and allowed just two infield singles while striking out four.

Meisner took over in the fifth and, after retiring the first two batters he faced, gave up a solo home run to Josh Fuentes that gave the Nuts a 1-0 lead.

Nuts starter Carlos Polanco (2-5) kept Stockton out of the run column over the first four innings but fell victim to his own miscue in the fifth. With two on and one out, Polanco made an errant pick-off move to first that allowed the runners to get to second and third. B.J. Boyd provided a sac-fly to center to score Mikey White and tie the game at 1-1. The run was unearned and the only run allowed by Polanco who picked up the win, going 6.1 innings and allowing three hits while walking three and striking out four.

Modesto grabbed the lead back in the sixth. Emerson Jimenez reached on a fielding error by the third baseman White and scored on a one-out RBI single by Shane Hoelscher to make it a 2-1 game. It was the last run allowed by Meisner who suffered the loss after going three innings in his first relief appearance and allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits while walking two and striking out two.

Corey Miller took over in the eighth and walked Jimenez to open the frame. Wes Rogers came up next and laid a sacrifice bunt up the first base line. Miller fielded the ball and made an errant throw down the right field line. Right fielder Seth Brown booted the ball and that allowed Jimenez to round third and score. With Rogers at second, he attempted a steal of third and catcher Iolana Akau's throw sailed down the left field line, the third error of the inning that allowed Rogers to score and make it a 4-1 game.

Miller allowed two unearned runs on one hit in his two innings of work.

Logan Cozart took over for Polanco and got the final two outs of the seventh. Cozart started the eighth and gave up a single and saw Sandber Pimentel reach on an error with one out. With two on and two out, Jerry Vasto (SV, 10) took over and struck out Brown to escape the jam.

Vasto pitched around a two-out single in the ninth and went on to earn his 10th save of the season.

The Ports and Nuts wrap up their four-game set on Wednesday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Zack Erwin (2-7, 5.62 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Modesto right-hander Alex Balog (1-0, 0.00 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.

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California League Stories from June 15, 2016


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