Ports Take Opener From Rawhide 4-1

STOCKTON, Calif. - Monday night's game started with a 47-minute rain delay and ended with a second straight Stockton Ports victory. The Boys of Banner Island held the Visalia Rawhide to just one run en route to a 4-1 win in the first of a three-game series.

The Ports opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. After Bobby Crocker drew a walk to open the inning, Addison Russell brought him home with a triple to right to give Stockton a 1-0 lead. Max Muncy followed with a sac-fly to right to make it a 2-0 advantage.

Visalia loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the second. Ports starter Josh Bowman (1-2) was able to induce a 3-6-3 double-play off the bat of Michael Perez on which a run scored to make it 2-1. Bowman escaped any further trouble in the inning by striking out Matt Helm.

Bowman, who retired nine in a row beginning with the double-play in the second, went on to earn the win, going six innings and allowing four runs while striking out four and walking three.

Rawhide starter Keith Hessler (5-4) allowed another run in the top of the second. With two outs, Myrio Richard doubled and Dusty Robinson lined an RBI single to center to put the Ports lead back to two runs at 3-1.

Hessler suffered the loss after going five innings and allowing three runs on five hits while striking out five.

Stockton's bullpen shut down the Visalia offense down the stretch as Jake Brown tossed an inning-and-a-third scoreless and Ryan Dull (SV, 1) earned his first save as he pitched around an eighth-inning error and retired five of the six batters he faced.

The Ports added a run in the eighth when Russell hit his second home run in as many games, a solo blast off Rawhide reliever Kaleb Fleck to make it a 4-1 game. Russell went 2-for-3 with two RBI in the contest.

Stockton and Visalia will play the second game of their three-game set on Tuesday night at Banner Island Ballpark. James Simmons (4-2, 2.63 ERA) makes the start for the Ports, opposed by Rawhide left-hander Andrew Barbosa (4-4, 4.42 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.