Late Rally Stymied As Ports Fall 8-6

^{STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports saw a late rally come up short on Saturday night at Banner Island Ballpark, The Ports plated two runs in the bottom of the ninth but it wasn't enough to overcome a four-run deficit as Stockton dropped an 8-6 decision to the Inland Empire 66ers in front of a capacity crowd of 5,322.}

^{Inland Empire opened the scoring in the top of the first as Tim Arakawa doubled to left to open the game and scored on a two-out wild pitch by Ports starter Daniel Gossett to give the 66ers the initial lead.}

^{Stockton countered with two runs in the bottom of the first as James Harris extended his hit streak to 16 games with a leadoff single to right. He'd later score on a Joe Bennie RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. With two on and two out, Seth Brown gave the Ports their first lead with an RBI single to right to make it 2-1.}

^{Inland Empire was quick to tie the score as Jeff Boehm hit a one-out homer to left-center to knot the score at 2-2. The 66ers took the lead in the third as Arakawa singled to left. Kyle Finnegan then replaced Gossett and gave up a single to Taylor Ward on which Arakawa scored to make it 3-2. Gossett received a no-decision, going two-plus innings and allowing three runs on four hits while striking out four.}

^{The Ports tied the score in the fifth as Harris reached on a strikeout and passed ball. After he stole second, Harris scored on a B.J. Boyd triple to right-center to tie the game at 3-3. It was the final run allowed by 66ers starter Justin Anderson, who received a no-decision after going five innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out five.}

^{Each team scored in the sixth as the 66eres got a two-out walk drawn by Trever Allen, who scored on a single by Forrestt Allday to make it a 4-3 game Dixon Llorens (1-0) came on in relief to start the sixth for the 66ers and gave up a one-out single to Mikey White. After White stole second base, Seth Brown drew a walk and Sandber Pimentel reached on an infield single that loaded the bases. Andy Paz then drew a walk that brought in a run to tie the game at 4-4.}

^{Lou Trivino (0-2) came on to start the seventh for Stockton and got off to a rocky start as he walked Ward to open the frame. After a strikeout, Zach Houchins singled to put runners at second and third. Michael Strentz then delivered a two-run single to give the 66ers a 6-4 lead. The 66ers widened their lead in the eighth as Ryan Serba tripled down the right field line and scored on an ensuing sac-fly by Allday that made it a 7-4 contest. It was the final run allowed by Trivino, who suffered the loss after going an inning-and-two-thirds and allowing three runs.}

^{The 66ers padded their lead in the ninth facing Koby Gauna. With runners at the corners and two outs, Jeff Boehm singled to left-center to give Inland Empire another insurance run and make it an 8-4 contest. It was the only run allowed by Gauna in his inning-and-a-third of relief.}

^{Stockton tried to rally in the ninth as Brian Loconsole came on to pitch for the 66ers. Paz opened the inning with a single to center, followed up with singles from Harris and Jose Brizuela that loaded the bases with nobody out. Boyd brought in the first run of the inning on a groundout and Joe Bennie brought in another run on a groundout to cut the 66ers lead to 8-6. With Tyler Marincov at the plate as the possible-tying run, Loconsole got him to line out to Allday to end the ballgame.}

^{Llorens, who pitched one inning and allowed one run on two hits, picked up the win for Inland Empire.}

^{The Ports and 66ers wrap up their four-game set on Sunday afternoon at Banner Island Ballpark. Brett Graves (1-2, 6.75 ERA) makes the start for Stockton. First pitch is set for 2:09 p.m. PDT.}