Late Ports Comeback Falls Short In San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. - The Stockton Ports made a strong push to play their second extra-inning game in as many days on Sunday, but fell just short of a late comeback versus the San Jose Giants. Stockton scored four runs in the eighth and had the possible-tying run at third with less than two outs, but failed to score as the Giants beat the Ports 7-6 at San Jose Municipal Stadium.

Ports starter Michael Ynoa (0-2) struggled for a third straight start in the California League. Ynoa issued a leadoff walk to Brock Bond in the first and, two batters later, gave up an RBI double to Hector Sanchez who played on Major League rehab, putting the Giants in front 1-0. After the double, Ynoa walked Mac Williamson and Ricky Oropesa to load the bases. After striking out Elliott Blair, Ynoa gave up a two-run single to Eric Sim that increased the Giants lead to 3-0.

After keeping the Giants out of the run column in the second, Ynoa issued back-to-back walks to Oropesa and Blair to open the third. Sim came up and delivered an RBI single to left that made it 4-0. After Myles Schroder singled to left to load the bases with nobody out, Ynoa was lifted for Omar Duran. Duran got Chris Lofton to ground out to second, but Oropesa scored from third on the play to make it 5-0. Duran escaped the inning without further damage.

Ynoa suffered the loss, going two-plus innings and allowing five runs on five hits while walking a career-high six and striking out one. Duran went 2.2 scoreless innings and allowed two hits while striking out four.

Stockton's offense showed its first signs of life in the fourth inning. Josh Whitaker singled with one out and, two batters later, Tony Thompson hit a two-run homer off Giants starter Kelvin Marte (3-2) to make it 5-2. Those were the only runs allowed by Marte who earned the win after going 6.2 innings and allowing five hits while striking out six.

T.J. Walz took over for Duran in the fifth and recorded the final out of the inning. Walz came back out to pitch the sixth and gave up a leadoff double to Blair. After retiring the next two batters, Walz walked Lofton and then gave up back-to-back RBI singles to Bond and Kelby Tomlinson that increased the San Jose lead to 7-2.

Luis Rojas took over for Marte in the seventh and recorded the final out of the inning. In the eighth, Myrio Richard led off with a double and Antonio Lamas followed with a single. Whitaker came up next and singled to center to cut the Giants lead to 7-3. With one out, Tony Thompson hit a two-run single to left-center to make it 7-5. Bobby Crocker came up next and tripled to the gap in left-center, scoring Thompson and putting the possible-tying run at third with one out. Rashun Dixon came up and hit a fly ball to shallow center on which Crocker couldn't tag up and score. With two outs, Phil Pohl grounded to second to end the inning and the threat.

Derek Law (SV, 3) took over for the Giants and gave up a leadoff single to Wade Kirkland. Law, however, would retire the next three batters, including strikeouts of Richard and Whitaker to end the ballgame and earn his third save in as many chances.

With their series tied at one game apiece, the Ports and Giants play the rubber match of their three-game set on Monday night at Municipal Stadium. James Simmons (7-3, 4.12 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by San Jose right-hander Jason Forjet (3-1, 3.09 ERA). First pitch is set for 7 p.m. PDT.