Stockton Blanked Again In 1-0 Loss

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports' scoring drought has now reached 21 consecutive innings dating back to Friday night. The Ports were shut out for a second straight game on Sunday night, falling to the JetHawks 1-0 and suffering back-to-back losses for the first time since June 8-9.
The Ports had early scoring opportunities fall by the wayside as they stranded seven baserunners over the first three innings, including leaving the bases loaded in the second. JetHawks starter Ty Culbreth would go on to work seven scoreless frames and allow five hits while striking out eight.
Stockton starter Matt Milburn, coming off a complete-game shutout on Tuesday night in San Jose, shined for a second straight outing. Milburn retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced on his way to tossing seven scoreless innings. He scattered five hits while walking one and matching a season-high with eight strikeouts. Milburn has now worked 16 consecutive scoreless frames.
Will Gilbert (3-2) took over for Milburn in the eighth and would go on to escape a bases-loaded jam in the top of the eighth to preserve the scoreless tie. In the ninth, however, Gilbert surrendered a leadoff home run to Alan Trejo that gave Lancaster the only run it would need for the victory. Gilbert would suffer the loss after allowing the one run on three hits in two innings worked.
Ben Bowden (1-1), who pitched a perfect bottom of the eighth, would pick up the victory. Reid Humphreys (SV, 18) set the side down in order in the ninth to notch his league-leading 18^th save of the season.
The Ports and JetHawks play the fourth game of their five-game set on Monday night at Banner Island Ballpark with Oakland A's third baseman Matt Chapman joining Stockton on a Major League rehab assignment. Left-hander Zack Erwin (6-5, 5.00 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Lancaster right-hander David Hill (2-3, 5.47 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.