Robinson Lifts Ports To 6-2 Victory

STOCKTON, Calif. - Dusty Robinson came into Friday night's contest in a bit of a slump. He left the game on a huge surge. Robinson went 3-for-4 and drove in five runs as the Stockton Ports cruised to a 6-2 win over the Visalia Rawhide at Banner Island Ballpark.

Stockton got on the board in the bottom of the first. With the bases loaded and two outs, Robinson came up and bounced a two-run single into center to give the Ports a 2-0 lead.

The Ports extended their lead in the third, and again it was Robinson getting it done. With two outs and the bases empty, A.J. Kirby-Jones drew a walk, Ryan Ortiz singled and Robinson hit a three-run homer to left-center to make it a 5-0 game.

Stockton scored one more run off Rawhide starter Taylor Siemens (5-7) in the fourth when Diomendes Lopez led off with a home run to left, bringing the Ports lead to 6-0.

Siemens took the loss, going four innings and allowing six runs on six hits while walking three and striking out two.

Ports starter Sean Murphy (8-8) pitched around three walks over the first three innings and didn't allow a hit until the fourth, when Garrett Weber led off with a single. Two batters later, Carter Bell singled to put two aboard, but Raoul Torrez hit into an inning-ending 1-6-3 double-play.

With two outs in the sixth inning, the Rawhide loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. Murphy, though, would get Torrez to fly to right to end the inning and his final outing of the season.

Murphy would earn the win, going six shutout innings and allowing four hits while walking four and striking out three.

Blake Treinen tossed two perfect innings in relief of Murphy while striking out four. Zack Thornton came on to pitch the ninth and had Keon Broxton reach on an error to start the inning. After stealing second, Broxton scored on an RBI double from Bell that put the Rawhide on the board at 6-1. Bell scored three batters later on an RBI double from Ryan LaPensee to make it 6-2. Thornton, with runners at second and third and one out, would strike out Ender Inciarte and get Gerson Montilla to fly to center to end the ballgame.

The Ports and Rawhide play the second game of their four-game set on Saturday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Left-hander Jake Brown (6-10, 5.01 ERA) will make the start for Stockton, opposed by Visalia right-hander Ray Hernandez (5-9, 6.01 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.