STOCKTON, Calif. - After scoring 11 runs on 12 hits Thursday afternoon in San Jose, the Stockton Ports mustered just a quarter of that hit total on Friday night at Banner Island Ballpark. The Ports were held to just four hits in a 5-2 loss to the Visalia Rawhide to
STOCKTON, Calif. - After scoring 11 runs on 12 hits Thursday afternoon in San Jose, the Stockton Ports mustered just a quarter of that hit total on Friday night at Banner Island Ballpark. The Ports were held to just four hits in a 5-2 loss to the Visalia Rawhide to open a three-game series and a seven-game homestand. With the loss, Stockton's magic number to clinch a First Half title remains four.
Visalia opened the scoring in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Daulton Varsho tripled to right and would score on an ensuing two-run homer by Drew Ellis to give the Rawhide a 2-0 lead. With two outs and the bases empty, Dominic Miroglio and Mark Karaviotis would hit back-to-back doubles to run the lead to 3-0.
The Rawhide would extend their lead in the sixth on a leadoff home run hit by Varsho to make it a 4-0 contest. It was the final run allowed by Ports starter Zack Erwin (5-4), who suffered the loss after going seven innings and allowing nine hits while walking one and striking out four.
Rawhide starter Connor Grey (5-3) had another strong outing versus Stockton. Grey kept the Ports out of the run column over the first five innings and allowed just one run in the sixth. Nate Mondou drew a leadoff walk and Skye Bolt followed with a double that put runners at second and third. Two batters later with one out, Will Toffey grounded out to first to score Mondou and cut the Stockton deficit to 4-1.
Grey would go on to earn the win, tossing six innings and allowing three hits while walking four and striking out six.
Randall Delgado and Wei-Chieh Huang each struck out the side in order in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively.
Visalia added an insurance run in the ninth off Ports reliever Brendan Butler. Ellis doubled to lead off the inning and scored on an ensuing single by Pavin Smith to make it 5-1. It was the lone run allowed by Butler in his two innings of relief.
Jordan Watson came on to pitch the ninth for Visalia and would give up a two-out triple to Dairon Blanco. Watson then hit Luis Barrera to put two aboard. With the possible-tying run in the on-deck circle, Tommy Eveld (SV, 5) was summoned from the bullpen for the save opportunity. Eveld would uncork a wild pitch that allowed Blanco to score from third but went on to get Luke Persico to ground out to end the ballgame and notch his fifth save of the season.
Jonah Heim, who went 0-for-3 with a walk, saw his nine-game hit streak come to an end for Stockton.
The Ports and Rawhide play the second game of their three-game series on Saturday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Dustin Hurlbutt (1-1, 2.84 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Visalia right-hander and league ERA leader Emilio Vargas (4-1, 1.24 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.
