Head's Homers Lift Ports Past Mavericks 9-8

ADELANTO, Calif. - Miles Head picked a great time to have his first multi-home run game of the season. Head, immediately after the High Desert Mavericks had erased a six-run deficit, hit his second home run of the night to lead off the seventh inning. The solo blast proved to be the difference-maker as the Stockton Ports held on for a 9-8 win, evening their series with High Desert at a game apiece.

Early on, it looked like Stockton could be headed for a blowout victory. The Ports scored four runs in the second inning off High Desert starter Cameron Hobson, getting RBI's from Josh Whitaker, Nino Leyja and Yordy Cabrera. Stockton made it 7-0 in the third after Whitaker came up with the bases loaded and tripled to left, driving in three more runs.

The Mavericks, though, would begin chipping away at their large deficit in the third. With two on and one out, Jack Marder hit a two-run double to left off Ports starter Blake Treinen to make it a 7-2 game.

The Ports got one of the runs back in the fourth on a two-out, solo home run from Head. It was the final run the Ports scored off Hobson, who received a no-decision after going 4.1 innings and allowing eight runs on nine hits while walking five and striking out four.

High Desert climbed back into the game in the fifth. Trailing 8-2, the Mavericks had ninth-place hitter James Jones reach on a throwing error made by Cabrera with one out. Brad Miller followed with an infield single to put runners at the corners and Marder drove in a run with a sac-fly to center to make it 8-3. After Stefen Romero was hit by a pitch, John Hicks came up and hit a three-run homer to left to make it an 8-6 ballgame. The throwing error made all four runs in the inning unearned for Treinen.

The Mavericks erased their deficit completely in the sixth. With one on and nobody out, Mickey Wiswall hit a two-run homer to left to tie the game at 8-8. Two batters later with one out, Jones tripled to left to knock Treinen from the game. T.J. Walz (3-4) came on from the bullpen and, with Jones at third and one out, struck out Miller and got Marder to fly to right to end the inning without further damage.

Treinen received a no-decision, going 5.1 innings and allowing eight runs (four earned) on nine hits while striking out five. Walz pitched a perfect seventh and would receive the win after 1.2 perfect innings of relief.

As quickly as Stockton lost the lead, they got it right back thanks to Head, who led off the seventh inning with his second home run of the night, a solo shot to left field off Mavericks reliever Willy Kesler (2-2). It was the only hit Kessler allowed in his 1.1 innings of relief as he took the loss on the afternoon.

Beginning with Walz' strikeout of Miller, Ports pitching combined to retire 11 of the final 12 High Desert hitters to close out the game. Connor Hoehn (SV, 1) tossed a perfect eighth, and in the ninth walked Miller to put the tying run aboard with one out. After Miller stole second, Hoehn got Marder to fly out to left and Romero to ground to short to end the ballgame and pick up his first save of the season.

Stockton and High Desert will play the rubber match of their three-game set on Tuesday night at Mavericks Stadium. Sean Murphy (0-1, 0.00 ERA) will be on the mound for the Ports, opposed by Mavericks left-hander Roenis Elias (4-2, 3.19 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.