STOCKTON, Calif. - For the second time in a week, the Stockton Ports won a game on a walk-off wild pitch. On Saturday night, the winning run scored all the way from second base. Mickey McDonald capped off a 4-for-4 night by scoring from second base on a wild pitch
STOCKTON, Calif. - For the second time in a week, the Stockton Ports won a game on a walk-off wild pitch. On Saturday night, the winning run scored all the way from second base. Mickey McDonald capped off a 4-for-4 night by scoring from second base on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 10th inning, completed a four-run comeback in extra innings as the Ports defeated the San Jose Giants 8-7 for their fourth straight victory.
Stockton did not trail in the game until the Giants took the lead in the top of the 10th inning. The Ports got the first run of the game in the third as McDonald doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a two-out single by Alfonso Rivas to make it a 1-0 game.
Ports starter James Kaprielian worked the first three innings for Stockton and retired nine of the 10 batters he faced as he issued one walk and struck out three. Rafael Kelly took over for Kaprielian in the fourth and gave up a one-out solo homer to Joey Bart that tied the game at 1-1.
The Ports took the lead back in the bottom of the fourth inning on three straight two-out hits. With Trace Loehr at second base after having reached on an error, Jordan Devencenzi doubled down the right field line, McDonald hit a ground rule double to right-center that scored Devencenzi and Nick Allen singled to right to score McDonald and make it a 4-1 contest. Those were the last runs allowed by Giants starter Jake Wong, who did not factor into the decision after going five innings and allowing seven hits while striking out three.
Bart got the Giants back into the game again in the sixth inning as he came up with one on and one out and hit his second home run of the night, a two-run shot to right that cut the Stockton lead to 4-3. Those were the last runs allowed by Kelly who was rendered a no-decision after allowing there runs on three hits in four innings.
Wandisson Charles took over in the eighth and did not allow a run in his first inning of work. In the ninth, Charles retired the first two batters before issuing a walk to Manuel Geraldo. After pinch-hitter Peter Maris was hit by a pitch, Charles was lifted for Nick Highberger (3-2), who gave up an RBI single to Bryce Johnson on the first pitch he threw that tied the game at 4-4.
Highberger worked into the 10th inning and, with two on and one out, gave up an RBI single to David Villar that gave the Giants their first lead at 5-4. Two batters later with two outs, Kyle McPherson doubled to left-center to score two more runs and widen the San Jose lead to 7-4.
Caleb Simpson (1-1) took over for the Giants in the bottom of the 10th. After issuing a one-out walk to Loehr that put two on with one out, Jeremy Eierman delivered his first hit of the night, a three-run homer to right that tied the game at 7-7. Two batters later with two outs and the bases empty, McDonald drew a walk to reach base for the fifth time in the contest. After McDonald stole second, Simpson threw a pitch in the dirt to Allen that bounced about 10 feet to the right of Giants catcher Fabian Pena. Pena frantically searched for the ball but couldn't find it as McDonald rounded third and headed for home. As Pena finally located the ball off to his right, McDonald scored standing up to give the Ports an 8-7 win in the bottom of the 10th.
Simpson suffered the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) in two-thirds of an inning. Highberger, who allowed three runs over an inning-and-a-third, picked up the win for Stockton.
Winners of four straight and eight of their last night, the Ports welcome the Giants back to Banner Island Ballpark on Sunday afternoon for the third game of their five-game series. Mitchell Jordan (4-4, 5.11 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by San Jose right-hander Trenton Toplikar (1-1, 4.00 ERA). First pitch is set for 2:09 p.m. PDT.
