STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports won their fifth straight series on Saturday night, defeating the team that send them to their last series loss in mid-May. The Ports scored nine runs over the first five innings on their way to a 9-3 victory over the Lancaster JetHawks in the
STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports won their fifth straight series on Saturday night, defeating the team that send them to their last series loss in mid-May. The Ports scored nine runs over the first five innings on their way to a 9-3 victory over the Lancaster JetHawks in the final game of a four-game set at Banner Island Ballpark.
The Ports scored runs in each of the first three frames as Skye Bolt singled to open the first and scored on a two-out double by Seth Brown to bring home the first run of the game. Sean Murphy hit the first pitch of the second inning out to left-center field to make it a 2-0 game. With one on and two outs in the third, Mikey White hit a line drive to right field that hit off the glove of Sam Hilliard, an error that allowed a run to score and keep the inning alive. The Ports made the error hurt more with back-to-back RBI singles by Brett Siddall and Branden Cogswell that made it a 5-0 contest.
The JetHawks got their first run in the top of the fourth as Wilson Soriano doubled to with one out and scored on a two-out single by Roberto Ramos to cut the Ports lead to 5-1.
Stockton would pull away in the fifth as they loaded the bases with nobody out. Branden Cogswell would single off the wall in center to drive in the first run and knock JetHawks starter Trey Killian (5-2) from the contest. Max Schuh came on and gave up a two-run double to Bolt and then a sac-fly to Josh Vidales to make it a 9-1 game.
Killian would suffer the loss, going four-plus innings and allowing nine runs (six earned) on 11 hits.
Ports starter A.J. Puk (4-4), meanwhile, would cruise through the first six innings unscathed and had retired seven consecutive batters entering the seventh. Puk gave up his first walk of the game to Brian Mundell to open the seventh. After he recorded back-to-back strikeouts, Puk gave up an RBI double to Mylz Jones and then walked Chris Rabago, at which point he was lifted for Armando Ruiz who made his California League debut. Ruiz would give up an RBI single to Scott Burcham, but get Garrett Hampson to pop out to the infield to escape further trouble.
Puk would go on to pick up his fourth victory of the season, going a career-high 6.2 innings and allowing three runs on four hits while striking out a career-best 12.
Ruiz would go on to work 2.1 scoreless innings in his California League debut, allowing three hits while striking out four.
Schuh and Carlos Polanco combined for four scoreless innings of relief for the JetHawks.
After taking three of four from Lancaster, the Ports welcome the Lake Elsinore Storm to Banner Island Ballpark to open a three-game series on Sunday afternoon. Angel Duno (4-1, 6.61 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Lake Elsinore left-hander Joey Lucchesi (4-2, 2.18 ERA). First pitch is set for 2:09 p.m. PDT.
