JetHawks Soar Past Ports 10-0

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Lancaster JetHawks had had no success versus the Stockton Ports this season up until Wednesday night when they broke through in a big way. Lancaster scored 10 runs on 10 hits as they upended the Ports 10-0 at Banner Island Ballpark, handing Stockton its fifth shutout loss of the season.

Ports starter Yeiper Castillo (0-1) had control issues in the first as he issued three walks and allowed two runs on a two-out double by Jobduan Morales that gave Lancaster an early 2-0 lead. The JetHawks added two more runs in the third on a wild pitch and a sac-fly hit by Conrad Gregor to make it a 4-0 advantage.

Castillo's final inning was the fourth, where he issued a two-out walk to Danry Vasquez, uncorked a wild pitch and then gave up an RBI single to Jack Mayfield to make it a 5-0 ballgame. Castillo suffered the loss, going four innings and allowing five runs on five hits while walking four and striking out one.

Jonathan Joseph came on to pitch the fifth and gave up a leadoff double to Jordan Scott. After getting the first out of the inning, Joseph issued three straight walks with the third one issued to Morales bringing in another run. After Dan Gulbransen drove in a run with a sac-fly to left, Austin Ellis singled to reload the bases and Joseph issued another bases loaded walk to Vasquez to make it an 8-0 game, at which point Joseph was lifted for Andres Avila who recorded a strikeout to end the inning.

Joseph went two-thirds of an inning and allowed three runs on two hits while walking four.

Meanwhile, JetHawks starter Chris Devenski (5-5) was sensational. Devenski retired his first eight batters before allowing a bunt single to Wade Kirkland. Devenski allowed a two-out single to Renato Nunez in the fourth and it turned out to be the final hit he allowed on the night as he picked up the win, going seven scoreless innings while striking out eight.

Lancaster added to its lead one final time in the seventh as Ellis hit a two-run homer off Avila to make it a 10-0 game. Avila went 2.1 innings and allowed two runs on two hits in his return to Stockton.

Josh Bowman pitched the final two innings scoreless for the Ports while Patrick Christensen pitched around a double by Kirkland in the eighth and a leadoff double by Daniel Robertson in the ninth to preserve the shutout for the JetHawks.

The Ports and JetHawks will play the rubber match of the three-game series on Thursday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Seth Streich (8-4, 2.93 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Lancster left-hander Josh Hader (7-0, 2.24 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.