Ports Bats Quiet In 6-2 Loss to 66ers
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - For a second straight game, the Stockton Ports struggled to accumulate hits at San Manuel Stadium. Following a four-hit performance on Saturday, Stockton mustered just six hits on Sunday including a pair of solo home runs as they dropped a second straight game to the Inland Empire 66ers by a final of 6-2.
Ports starter Jake Sanchez (4-1) got hit around early as Cal Towey doubled to lead off the second inning and scored two batters later on an RBI single by Anthony Bemboom to give Inland Empire a 1-0 lead. Two batters later Bemboom scored on an RBI double by Alex Allbritton. After Sherman Johnson drew a walk, Exicardo Cayones singled to left to score Allbritton and make it a 3-0 contest.
The 66ers continued to build on their lead in the third as Dennis Raben led off with a single and scored on an ensuing double by Towey to make it 4-0.
Sanchez suffered the loss in his shortest outing of the season with Stockton, going four innings and allowing four runs on seven hits while walking a season-high three and striking out four.
Meanwhile, 66ers starter Trevor Foss (1-0) faced the minimum over his first three innings. Foss then pitched around back-to-back singles by Daniel Robertson and Chad Pinder that opened the fourth inning and went on to retire the final six batters he faced.
Foss picked up the win, going five shutout inning while allowing two hits and striking out four.
Andres Avila came on in relief of Sanchez in the fifth and surrendered a leadoff homer to Towey. Three batters later with two outs, Riley Good singled and scored on an ensuing double by Allbritton to make it 6-0. The runs were the only ones allowed by Avila in two innings of relief.
The Ports got a pair of home runs in the seventh to break into the run column. Josh Reddick, in his final game on rehab with Stockton, homered to start the inning off 66ers reliever Chris O'Grady (SV, 3). It was Reddick's third home run with Stockton. Two batters later, Renato Nunez hit his 23rd home run of the season out to straight away center field to make it a 6-2 game. O'Grady, though, would go on to retire eight of the final nine batters he faced to record a three-inning save, the only exception of the nine batters being a double allowed to Reddick with one out in the ninth.
Kris Hall and Nolan Sanburn each pitched a scoreless inning in relief for Stockton.
The Ports and 66ers play the third game of their four-game set on Monday at San Manuel Stadium. Josh Bowman (2-7, 6.07 ERA) will make the start for Stockton, opposed by Inland Empire right-hander Dan Tobik (1-5, 4.48 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.