STOCKTON. Calif. - The Stockton Ports ended their stretch of 26 straight innings without a run, but ultimately came up short for a fourth straight game on Friday night at Banner Island Ballpark. The Modesto Nuts jumped out to a 6-0 lead and went on to hand the Ports a
STOCKTON. Calif. - The Stockton Ports ended their stretch of 26 straight innings without a run, but ultimately came up short for a fourth straight game on Friday night at Banner Island Ballpark. The Modesto Nuts jumped out to a 6-0 lead and went on to hand the Ports a 7-3 loss in the second game of a three-game series.
Modesto scored the first runs of the game in the fourth on RBI singles by Jake Scheiner and Jack Larsen. The Nuts added to their lead in the fifth on a solo home run by Jared Kelenic to make it a 3-0 ballgame.
Ports starter Xavier Altamirano (3-5) worked into the sixth inning and with one on and one out, gave up a two-run homer to Larsen. Altamirano would give up a double to Nick Thurman and, after getting the first out of the inning, be lifted for Michael Danielak, who gave up a two-out double to Kelenic to make it a 6-0 score.
Altamirano suffered the loss, going 5 1/3 innings and allowing six runs on nine hits while striking out five.
Nuts starter Penn Murfee (4-2) would shut down the Stockton offense through six scoreless innings and go on to earn the victory, allowing six hits while striking out a career-best nine.
Kyle Wilcox took over for Modesto in the seventh and saw Jeremy Eierman reach on a fielding error to open the inning. Later in the inning with the bases loaded and one out, Ryan Gridley lined an RBI single to center to put the Ports on the board and snap a stretch of 26 consecutive scoreless innings. Jameson Hannah added a sac-fly to make it a 6-2 contest.
Modesto added a run in the eighth off Ports reliever Eric Mariñez as Connor Kopach doubled and scored on a wild pitch. It was the only run allowed by Marinez in his two innings of relief.
The Ports scored a final run in the eighth as Lazaro Armenteros doubled to open the frame and scored later in the inning on an RBI single by Jonah Bride. It was the only run allowed by David Ellingson in his two innings of work.
The Ports and Nuts wrap up their three-game series on Saturday night at Banner Island Ballpark. The Ports have yet to announce their starter for the contest. Right-hander Austin Hutchison (2-8, 4.43 ERA) makes the start for Modesto. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.
