Homers Help Ports To 6-2 Victory

STOCKTON, Calif. - The ball was flying out of Banner Island Ballpark on Tuesday night and the Stockton Ports took full advantage. The Ports got three home runs that accounted for four of their six runs in a 6-2 victory over the Lake Elsinore Storm, a victory that evens the four-game series at a game apiece.

Dusty Robinson was the first Ports hitter to go yard as he hit a solo blast down the left field line in the second inning off Storm starter Bryan Verbitsky (0-1) to give the Ports a 1-0 lead. With two outs and the bases empty in the third, Renato Nunez hit a solo homer to left to make it a 2-0 advantage.

Ports starter Seth Streich (2-1) struggled with command early as he walked three batters over the first two innings. Streich, however, allowed just two hits over five innings and induced two double plays in that span as he went on to earn the win, tossing five shutout frames while walking four and striking out three.

Verbitsky suffered the loss in his Cal-League debut, going 3.1 innings and allowing two runs on three hits while walking six and striking out two.

Stockton stretched its lead in the fifth as Matt Olson hit a two-run homer off Storm reliever Matthew Shepherd to make it 4-0. Shepherd allowed two more runs in the sixth as he uncorked a wild pitch with a runner at third and then gave up an RBI single to Chad Pinder, giving the Ports a 6-0 advantage.

Nolan Sanburn began the sixth inning for Stockton and, after allowing a single to the first batter he faced, retired the next six batters in a row.

Lake Elsinore's runs came in the eighth inning when with one on and two out, Hunter Renfroe hit a two-run homer off Ports reliever Omar Duran to make it 6-2.

Tucker Healy set the side down in order in the ninth to seal the Stockton victory.

The Ports and the Storm play the third game of their four-game series on Wednesday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Josh Bowman (0-2, 8.50 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Lake Elsinore right-hander Bryan Rodriguez (0-2, 2.65 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.