Ports Blast Past Fresno 8-2 in Game One

FRESNO, Calif. – The Ports (28-21, 55-60) took game one of the pivotal series with playoff implications 8-2 over the Grizzlies to open up a three-game lead over Fresno (25-24, 61-54) for first place in the second half standings.

Stockton jumped on the board with back-to-back solo home runs from Michael Brooks and Drew Burress to start the third inning. Brooks’ eighth of the season was driven out to left on a 1-2 count, and Burress obliterated his fourth long ball over the batter’s eye in straight-away center for a 2-0 lead. A sac fly for Gavin Turley to score Roman Martin was followed by an RBI groundout for Alex Sosa to plate Bryan Andrade and put the Ports up 4-0 through three innings.

Max Durrington and Brooks started the fourth innings with base hits, chasing Fresno starter Bryson Van Sickle from the game. Luke Hansel entered out of the Grizzlies bullpen and hit Sosa before giving up a grand slam to Turley (11) out to deep left center for an 8-0 Stockton advantage.

Alex Barr threw three shutout innings to get things started for the Ports, and Itsuki Takemoto fired a scoreless 1.2 innings to eventually earn the win. Fresno got a run in the sixth after Landyn Vidourek doubled and scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-1. But that’s all Mason Patel would allow in 2.1 innings pitched.

Dominic Mauro dealt a 1-2-3 eighth, before Blake Hammond made his return to the mound in the ninth after being out with an injury since June 18. He allowed a leadoff double and an RBI groundout, but that’s all the closer Fresno would get in Stockton’s 8-2 victory.

UP NEXT: Game two is scheduled for a 6:50 PM first pitch, with RHP Sandy Ozuna (0-2, 7.00) starting for Fresno and reigning Cal League Pitcher of the Week LHP Corey Braun (5-6, 4.90) starting for Stockton.

Single game tickets, mini plans, and group outings are all on sale for the 2026 season. For more information, call the Ports front office at 209-644-1400 or email at [email protected].