Ports a win away from Cal League Finals
Jermaine Mitchell delivered a walk-off single in the ninth inning to give the Ports a dramatic 7-6 win over the Giants in Game 3 of their semifinal playoff series Monday.
Mitchell's single to center field plated Corey Brown to cap a three-run rally for the Ports moments after Brown tied the game with a two-RBI double off Joe Paterson.
"It was exciting," Mitchell said. "In baseball, you just have to keep battling and good things will happen."
Stockton leads the best-of-5 series, 2-1, and can clinch the Finals berth Tuesday at home.
The Ports trailed after seven innings, 6-2, but rallied back in the eighth after loading the bases for Josh Horton, who ripped a two-run double off Juan Trinidad.
The ninth-inning rally mirrored the Ports' win from a night earlier in Game 2 when Chris Carter hit a two-un triple and Josh Donaldson lined a go-ahead RBI single for a 7-6 win.
San Jose State product Branden Dewing (1-0) hurled two perfect innings to pick up the win for Stockton. Starter Scott Mitchinson allowed three runs on six hits over 3 1/3 innings.
The Giants bullpen allowed five runs on seven hits and six walks in 4 1/3 innings.
Sharlon Schoop hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the fourth and Andy D'Alessio piled on three more insurance runs with a two-RBI single in the fifth and a run-scoring double in the seventh.
D'Alessio had three of San Jose's 12 hits.
Joe Paterson (0-1) allowed the winning run on two hits without recording an out in the ninth to suffer the loss. Australian southpaw Clayton Tanner started and allowed a pair of runs on five hits over four frames for the Giants.
In other Cal League action:
Lake Elsinore Storm 5, Lancaster 4
Luis Durango's walk-off single scored Anthony Contreras to give the Storm a win in the ninth. Evan Scribner pitched a perfect frame for the win. Box score