STOCKTON, Calif. - For the third time in 15 games, the Stockton Ports endured a shutout loss Thursday night at Banner Island Ballpark. The Ports mustered just four hits and had just two at-bats with runners in scoring position as the Visalia Rawhide got a stellar performance from starter Connor
STOCKTON, Calif. - For the third time in 15 games, the Stockton Ports endured a shutout loss Thursday night at Banner Island Ballpark. The Ports mustered just four hits and had just two at-bats with runners in scoring position as the Visalia Rawhide got a stellar performance from starter Connor Grey (3-0) and went on to beat Stockton by a final of 4-0 to open a four-game set.
Ports starter Brian Howard (1-2) pitched around a jam with runners at second and third and one out in the first, pitched around a one-out walk in the second and set the side down in order in the third. In the fourth, Howard recorded back-to-back strikeouts to open the frame. After Drew Ellis walked, Stephen Smith singled to put runners at the corners with two outs. While Dominic Miroglio was batting, Smith took off for second and drew a throw down from Ports catcher Collin Theroux. When Theroux threw down, Ellis advanced from third to home and scored before Smith was tagged out to give Visalia a 1-0 lead.
The fourth inning run was the only tally allowed by Howard, who suffered the loss after going five innings and allowing six hits while striking out nine. Howard struck out the side in his final frame after putting runners at second and third with nobody out.
Brandon Marsonek took over in the seventh and gave up a leadoff double to Miroglio, who scored on a two-out RBI single by Marcus Wilson to make it 2-0. It was the only run allowed by Marsonek in two innings of relief. Andrew Tomasovich walked Daulton Varsho with one out in the eighth and found himself in a bases-loaded jam after an Ellis double and another walk issued to Smith. Miroglio would drive in the third run of the game for the Rawhide with a sac-fly to left to make it 3-0. Angel Duno allowed a run in the ninth on a passed ball that stretched the Visalia lead to 4-0.
Grey, meanwhile, was stellar for Visalia. Grey scattered just three hits over seven innings, two of which were infield singles. He went on to earn the victory and record a career-high 12 strikeouts in the process. Only once did he see a Ports baserunner reach second base. In his final inning, Grey issued a leadoff walk to Jonah Heim and then proceeded to strike out the next three batters in succession to conclude his outing.
Kevin Ginkel (SV, 1) pitched two scoreless innings to close out the game for Visalia and earned his first win of the season.
The Ports and Rawhide play the second game of their four-game set on Friday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Matt Milburn (1-0, 4.66 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Visalia right-hander Sam McWilliams (1-1, 3.00 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.
