Stockton Gets Even With 9-0 Shutout Of Modesto

MODESTO, Calif. - For the fifth night in a row, the Stockton Ports were involved in a shutout. For the second time in those five nights, the Ports found themselves on the winning side of the ledger. After the Modesto Nuts shut them out to open their four-game series, the Ports returned the favor on Friday night, beating Modesto 9-0 and receiving another outstanding pitching performance from starter T.J. Walz (2-0).

The Ports scored their first of nine runs in the third. Rashun Dixon drew a walk to start the inning, and would score on a one-out RBI single from Myrio Richard to give the Ports a 1-0 lead.

Stockton extended its lead with a pair of runs in the fifth. Dixon opened the frame with a double and scored three batters later on a two-out triple from Richard. Michael Gilmartin came up next and lined one at the shortstop Tim Smalling. Smalling had the ball go off his glove and into left field, an error that allowed Richard to score and give the Ports a 3-0 advantage.

Meanwhile, Walz was in command for Stockton. Walz scattered five hits over seven scoreless innings, never allowing more than a hit per inning. Walz picked up the win as he struck out a career-best nine and walked just one.

Stockton's first three runs came of Nuts starter Juan Gonzalez (0-2), who took the loss after going six innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out seven.

Over the final three innings, the Ports scored six additional runs and took advantage of two more Modesto errors in that span. In the seventh, Stockton added an unearned run off Nuts reliever Kraig Sitton. In the eighth, after Sitton allowed a leadoff walk to Josh Whitaker, Miles Head hit a ball to deep right-center that went off the glove of right-fielder Corey Dickerson, a play that was ruled an error and resulted in another run. Two batters later, Tony Thompson doubled off Craig Bennigson to drive in Head and make it a 6-0 lead.

In the ninth, the Ports tagged Bennigson for three more runs. With two on and nobody out, Gilmartin drove a two-run double to right to make it 8-0. Gilmartin scored two batters later on an RBI groundout from Head to stretch the Stockton lead to 9-0.

Sean Doolittle tossed a scoreless eighth for Stockton, adding two more strikeouts to his season total. Jose Guzman pitched a perfect ninth to close out the ballgame.

Head, who went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, extended his hitting streak to a league-leading 15 games. He is now the only player in the California League to hit safely in every game thus far on the season.

The Ports and Nuts will play the third game of their four-game set on Saturday night at John Thurman Field. Blake Hassebrock (1-0, 5.91 ERA) will toe the rubber for Stockton, opposed by Modesto left-hander Tyler Matzek (0-2, 1.72 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.