Mitchell, Parker Lead Ports to 10-4 Win
Center fielder Jermaine Mitchell finished the game 4x4 with a solo home run, while third baseman Stephen Parker went 3x3, a home run short of the cycle. Both had three runs scored and two RBI. Mike Spina also homered in the contest.
Southpaw Paul Oseguera collected his first victory as a Ports player, striking out nine in 6.0 innings. Fautino de Los Santos fanned three in 2.0 innings and Andrew Carignan closed out the game for the Ports. Lefty Kenny Durst picked up the loss for the Nuts, allowing seven runs on seven hits with five walks in 3.1 innings.
The Nuts scored first, making it 1-0 in the top of the first inning. Oseguera gave up a leadoff single to left fielder Mike Mitchell. He stole second while center fielder Tim Wheeler was at-bat. He then moved to third as catcher Ryan Ortiz tried to catch him stealing, but the ball went wild for an error. Mitchell came running home on a fielding error by Parker. Wheeler walked, but was put out at second as Ortiz caught him stealing. Oseguera would walk another batter in the inning, but get Scott Robinson to pop out to end the inning.
The Ports scored three runs in the bottom half of the inning to make it 3-1. From there, they wouldn't look back. Jermaine Mitchell singled to lead things off, and advanced to second as Green walked. Parker also walked to load the bases with no out. Right fielder Jeremy Barfield then stepped up to the plate. During his at-bat, Durst threw a wild pitch which scored Mitchell and allowed all runners to advance. Barfield hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to bring home Green. Parker later scored on an RBI single up the middle by catcher Ryan Ortiz.
Modesto answered by scoring their second run in the second inning. With two out and two on, Mike Mitchell singled to score third baseman Ryan Peisel.
Stockton made it 4-2 in the third inning as Spina slammed his 10th home run of the year over the Jackson Rancheria Back Porch in right field. The Ports pounded out three more runs in the fourth inning to pull ahead, 7-2. Jermaine Mitchell led off the fourth inning with a solo shot over the Back Porch. Durst next walked Green for the third straight time, and Parker notched an RBI triple off the left field wall. Barfield picked up his second RBI of the night with a single. Modesto then called in Stephen Dodson who retired the next two batters to stop the Ports offense.
Stockton added a run in each of the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. Parker hit an RBI single to score Jermaine Mitchell in the sixth. In the seventh, with the bases loaded, the Nuts called on Isaiah Froneberger to pitch. He walked Jermaine Mitchell to bring home Spina. Parker led off the eighth inning with a double, and later scored on a wild pitch by Rex Brothers.
The Nuts added their final two runs in the top of the ninth. Carignan took the hill for his 15th appearance of the year. He hit right fielder David Christensen to start the inning. Peisel came to the plate, and launched the ball toward second base. Ports second baseman Gernaldo Castillo made a great leaping grab to put out Peisel, and then threw to first to get out Christensen for a snappy double play. Carignan then gave up a two walks and a single to bring up Wheeler. Wheeler hit a two RBI single up the middle to make it 10-4. Carignan then got catcher Jordan Pacheco to strike out swinging to end the game and tie the series 1-1.
The Ports will face the Nuts in the series finale at 2:05 PM on Sunday. LHP Ben Hornbeck (1-1, 3.26) will toe the rubber for Stockton while RHP Dan Houston (3-4, 5.46) will start for Modesto.