STOCKTON, Calif. - Pitching has been the story for the Stockton Ports through the first six games of the 2018 season and Tuesday was no exception. The Boys of Banner Island notched their second shutout victory of the season as the Ports scratched the lone run of the game across
STOCKTON, Calif. - Pitching has been the story for the Stockton Ports through the first six games of the 2018 season and Tuesday was no exception. The Boys of Banner Island notched their second shutout victory of the season as the Ports scratched the lone run of the game across in the bottom of the eighth to earn a 1-0 win over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, their fifth consecutive victory.
Ports starter Jake Bray, making his debut as an Oakland A's farmhand, pitched around back-to-back walks that opened the first inning, back-to-back one-out singles in the second and escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the fourth to preserve a scoreless tie. Bray worked four innings and allowed four this while walking three and striking out two.
Quakes starter and Stockton native Dean Kremer enjoyed a very strong outing as well. Kremer hurled five scoreless innings while allowing just three hits, pitching around a leadoff double hit by Nate Mondou in the third to escape his biggest jam of the afternoon.
Brendan Butler (1-0) took over in relief of Bray beginning in the fifth and went on to toss four scoreless innings without allowing a hit. Butler pitched around two walks and struck out three as he picked up the victory.
Isaac Anderson (0-2) took over for Kremer in the sixth and pitched around a single in the sixth and a one-out walk in the seventh. Anderson started the eighth and allowed a leadoff single to Luke Persico. After a Moundou sacrifice bunt advanced Persico to second, Andrew Istler was summoned from the Quakes bullpen. Istler would uncork a wild pitch that allowed Persico to get to third base and set it up for Collin Theroux, who delivered a sacrifice fly to center to score Persico with the only run of the contest.
The run was charged to Anderson who suffered the loss after going 2.1 innings and allowing two hits while striking out three.
Miguel Romero (SV, 2) took over in the ninth and set the side down quickly in order to notch his second save in as many chances.
The Ports and Quakes wrap up their three-game series on Wednesday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Jesus Luzardo (0-1, 1.93 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Rancho Cucamonga right-hander Andrew Sopko (1-0, 1.80 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.
