Eighth Inning Slam Hands Ports 10-8 Loss

VISALIA, Calif. – Heartbreak continued for the Ports on Wednesday night, as they gave up two different leads before falling on a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth en route to a 10-8 loss to the Rawhide.

Stockton (31-31, 58-70) scored first in the top of the first when Gavin Turley scorched a double (10) 101 MPH into left center for an early 1-0 lead. The Rawhide (36-36, 54-74) answered with a two-out single in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 1-1, but starter Corey Braun would buckle down from there. The left hander would allow just that one run over four innings on four hits with two walks and four punchouts.

The Ports took the lead in the third when a sac fly from Bryan Andrade scored Drew Burress to go up 2-1. They got two more in the fourth on a bases loaded walk by Bobby Blandford and a sac fly from Turley to extend their lead to 4-1.

The Rawhide would begin their comeback in the fifth on a two-run homer from 15th overall pick in this year’s draft Ryan Helfrick to make it a one-run game at 4-3. An RBI double from Jake Duer tied the game at 4-4 and a Brayden Dowd base hit put Visalia in front 5-4. Victor Santana ripped a double down the third base line that nicked his counterpart Roman Martin’s glove to up the Rawhide’s lead to 6-4.

But the Ports put up three runs in the eighth to reclaim the lead. Burress tripled (2) to center and scored on a wild pitch to cut it to 6-5. Andrade drove home Turley with a base hit to left to tie the game at 6-6 and Alex Sosa put Stockton back in front at 7-6 with a single to left as well.

Burress made a diving catch in center on the first pitch Kade Brown delivered for the first out of the bottom of the eighth. But a double and two walks loaded the bases before Paul Schoenfeld stepped to the plate, 4 for 4 on the night. His fifth hit would be a 385-foot grand slam off the top of the scoreboard in right to put the Rawhide in front 10-7.

Turley drove in another run in the top of the ninth to cap a four-hit, three RBI night for the right fielder and cut it to a 10-8 deficit. Stockton had two aboard with two out when Martin ripped a liner 100 MPH to right, but Rawhide right fielder ran back to make the play and end the ballgame.

PLAYOFF SCENARIO: The loss combined with a Fresno win leaves the Ports two games behind the Grizzlies with four to play, cutting Fresno’s magic number to clinch the final playoff spot down to two.

UP NEXT: Game three is also scheduled for a 6:35 PM first pitch with RHP Mervin Fell (2-7, 6.67) starting for Visalia versus RHP Colin Fitzgerald (0-2, 13.50) for Stockton.