Giants Hand Ports First Loss

STOCKTON, Calif. - After opening 2013 with a four-game winning streak, the Stockton Ports suffered their first loss of the season on Monday night, falling to the San Jose Giants by a final of 8-2. San Jose, leading 4-1, scored four runs in the seventh inning to put the contest out of reach.

The Giants broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning when Devin Harris hit a two-run homer to left off Ports starter Andres Avila (0-1). Ydwin Villegas came up next, singled to left and would later score on a fielding error committed by shortstop Wade Kirkland to make it a 3-0 Giants advantage.

Stockton plated its first run in the bottom of the fourth on a sac-fly off the bat of B.A. Vollmuth, scoring Max Muncy who reached on an infield single with one out. The Ports would go on to load the bases with two outs in the frame, but Giants starter Chris Marlowe would avoid further damage by getting Wade Kirkland to ground to third.

Marlowe would receive a no-decision after going 4.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits while walking five and striking out four. He was lifted from the game with two on and two out in the fifth and Jorge Bucardo (2-0) came on and got Tony Thompson to ground out to end the threat.

Stockton threatened in the sixth but came up empty as they put runners at second and third with one out. Bucardo got Wade Kirkland to pop to first and Michael Fabiaschi to strike out looking to end the inning.

Bucardo went on to receive the win, going 2.1 scoreless innings while allowing one hit, walking two and striking out one.

San Jose added a run in the fifth off T.J. Walz when Angel Villalona scored on a two-out wild pitch to make it 4-1. The Giants broke the game open in the seventh with David Mota on the mound for Stockton. Mota walked Elliott Blair and then allowed an RBI double to Ryan Cavan that made it a 5-1 Giants lead. Mota then walked Harris and, two batters later, gave up a three-run homer to Jeff Arnold that gave San Jose a commanding 8-1 advantage.

Mota pitched one inning and allowed four runs on two hits while walking two.

The Ports added a late run in the eighth off Giants reliever Luis Rojas when Bobby Crocker drove in Ryan Ortiz with an RBI double.

Stockton and San Jose will play the second game of their three-game set on Tuesday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Drew Granier (1-0, 3.60 ERA) will make his second start of the season for the Ports, opposed by Giants left-hander Adalberto Mejia (0-0, 0.00 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.