Ports Hang On For Third Straight Win, Beat Giants 4-3

SAN JOSE, Calif. - The offensive output wasn't nearly as great on Friday night for the Stockton Ports, but the results were just as positive. One night removed from defeating the San Jose Giants 17-6, the Ports earned their third straight victory in a 4-3 win over the Giants at Municipal Stadium.

Stockton jumped in front in the top of the first on a two-out RBI single by Renato Nunez. The Giants returned fire in the bottom of the first as they took advantage of an error committed by Ports third baseman Ryon Healy. The throwing error enabled Shawn Payne to advance from second to third on an infield single and Payne scored on a fielder's choice groundout hit into by Blake Miller that tied the game at 1-1.

San Jose's first inning run was unearned and the only run allowed by Ports starter Josh Bowman, who made the spot-start as scheduled starter Tim Atherton was sent to Triple-A Sacramento. Bowman received a no-decision, going 3.1 innings and allowing two hits while striking out four.

The Ports grabbed the lead right back in the second inning. With one out, Ryan Gorton singled and Aaron Shipman followed with a triple to right-center to give the Ports a 2-1 lead. Shipman went on to score on a wild pitch with two outs to make it 3-1.

Giants starter Kendry Flores (3-6) suffered the loss after going four innings and allowing three runs on six hits while walking three and striking out two.

Jeff Soptic took over for San Jose in the fifth and set the side down in order in his first inning of work. In the top of the sixth, however, the Ports added to their lead. With two on and one out, Boog Powell singled to center to drive in Gorton and stretch the Stockton lead to 4-1. It was the only run allowed by Soptic in an inning-and-a-third of work. Powell went 3-for-3 for Stockton with three singles and two walks and reached base all five times he came to bat.

Jonathan Joseph (4-3) took over for Bowman with one on and one out in the fifth and would retire the first six batters he faced to take him one out deep into the sixth. Miller broke up that stretch with a double to left and Brian Ragira followed with a single to center on which Miller tried to round third and score. Miller, however, would be thrown out at home plate on a relay throw by first baseman Matt Olson with the tag applied by Gorton.

Joseph earned the win, going 3.2 scoreless innings and allowing three hits while striking out three.

Tyler Rogers pitched 2.2 scoreless innings for the Giants and pitched around a pair of singles allowed to Powell and Daniel Robertson.

Nolan Sanburn (SV, 4) took over in the eighth inning and set the side down in order in his first inning of work. Sanburn, however, had to hang on in the ninth to put the Ports in the win column. With one out, Ragira reached on a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ben Turner followed and hit a fly ball to deep left that was dropped on the warning track by Shipman, an error that allowed Ragira to score and Turner to go to second. Elliott Blair came up next and drove in Turner with an RBI single to left field to make it 4-3. Alberto Robles followed with a double to put runners at second and third with one out. The Giants summoned Mitch Delfino to pinch-hit and the Ports countered by issuing an intentional walk to Delfino to load the bases. With the bases full. Sanburn recorded back-to-back strikeouts of Chuckie Jones and Payne to end the ballgame and earn his fourth save of the season.

The Ports and Giants play the third game of their four-game set on Sunday evening at Municipal Stadium. In a battle of left-handers, Chris Lamb (3-0, 3.83 ERA) will take the hill for Stockton, opposed by Joe Kurrasch (6-2, 1.76) for San Jose. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. PDT.