Higley's Homer Lifts Ports Past Rawhide 2-1

VISALIA, Calif. - The Stockton Ports had suffered three straight narrow defeats at the hands of the Visalia Rawhide to begin a four-game series. The Boys of Banner Island turned the tables on Sunday afternoon. Justin Higley broke a 1-1 tie with a solo homer in the top of the ninth to give the Ports a 2-1 lead and ultimately the win at Recreation Ballpark as the Ports salvaged the final game of their four-game set with the Rawhide.

Stockton opened the scoring in the fifth when Higley doubled with one out and scored on a two-out RBI single by Franklin Barreto that gave the Ports a 1-0 lead. It was the only run allowed by Rawhide starter Blayne Weller, who received a no-decision after going seven strong innings and allowing one run on five hits while striking out three.

Ports starter Tim Atherton had kept Visalia off the board through his first five innings. In the sixth, it would be a Ports defensive miscue that would allow the Rawhide to enter the run column. With two outs and the bases empty, Atherton issued his first walk of the game to Daniel Palka. Kevin Cron came up next and hit a ground ball towards the shortstop Barreto. Barreto advanced to his left, fielded and then threw wide of first, allowing Palka to score and tie the game at 1-1.

The run in the sixth was unearned and the only run allowed by Atherton, who received a no-decision after allowing just two hits while striking out nine.

Joey Krehbiel (0-1) entered the game to start the eighth and kept the Ports off the board in his first inning. Krehbiel came back out for the ninth and, after retiring the first two batters, gave up a solo homer to Higley out to right field that gave the Ports a 2-1 advantage.

Krehbiel suffered the loss, allowing one run on one hit while striking out two.

After Sam Bragg pitched a perfect seventh inning, Andres Avila (2-0) came on to start the eighth and pitched around a pair of singles allowed in his first inning of relief. After the Ports took the lead on Higley's homer in the ninth, Avila set the side down in order in the bottom of the ninth to notch the win.

After taking the final game of their series at Visala, the Ports continue their road trip as they head to Bakersfield to begin a three-game series with the Blaze. Kyle Finnegan (0-2, 6.46 ERA) makes the start in the series opener for Stockton, opposed by Bakersfield right-hander Carlos Missel (1-0, 4.15 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m. PDT at Sam Lynn Ballpark.