Ports Win Streak Halted In 7-5 Loss

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports saw their six-game win streak come to an end on Wednesday night at Banner Island Ballpark. The San Jose Giants, led by a multi-home run effort from Shawn Payne, beat the Ports by a final of 7-5 to even the three-game series at one game apiece.

The Giants wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard as Payne hit the first pitch of the game by Josh Bowman (0-5) over the left-center field fence to give San Jose an early 1-0 advantage. The Giants made it 2-0 as they added a run in the second on a two-out RBI single by Payne.

The Ports put up their first run on Giants starter Pat Young (3-0) in the third. With two out, Daniel Robertson singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single by Renato Nunez. After leaving the bases loaded in the fourth, the Ports tied the game in the fifth. Robertson led the inning off by drawing a walk and scored two batters later on an RBI double to right by Matt Olson to knot the game at 2-2.

San Jose took a big lead and knocked Bowman out of the game in the sixth. Brian Ragira opened the frame with a single to center and Bowman hit Chuckie Jones and walked Elliott Blair to load the bases. After a wild pitch scored a run to break the tie, Rando Moreno hit a sac-fly to right to score Jones and make it 4-2 and knock Bowman from the contest. Jonathan Joseph took over and gave up a two-run homer to Payne on the first pitch he threw as Payne's second home run of the night extended the Giants lead to 6-2.

Bowman suffered the loss, going 5.1 innings and allowing five runs on five hits while walking five and striking out four.

Stockton pushed back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Billy McKinney walked to open the inning and Ryan Lipkin drove him in with a double to the right field corner to make it 6-3. The double also knocked Young from the game as Mason McVay took over and gave up a double to Wade Kirkland that put runners at second and third with nobody out. Aaron Shipman brought in the second run of the inning with an RBI groundout to second to cut the Giants lead to 6-4.

Young earned the win, going five-plus innings and allowing four runs on six hits while striking out two and walking four.

The Giants plated a late insurance run in the eighth off Joseph as Mitch Delfino singled to right to drive in Moreno and increase the lead to 7-4. It was the final run allowed by Joseph, who gave up two runs in 2.2 innings of relief.

Stockton's final run came in the eighth off Tyler Mizenko as Billy McKinney reached on an error to open the inning and scored on an RBI groundout by Shipman to cut the deficit to 7-5.

Trailing 7-5 in the bottom of the ninth, the Ports got a pair of two-out baserunners as Healy drew a walk and Dusty Robinson doubled to deep center to put the possible-tying runs in scoring position. The rally fell short, though, as Giants closer Steven Okert (SV, 9) got McKinney to ground out to third to end the ballgame. Okert picked up his ninth save in as many chances.

The Ports and Giants play the rubber match of their three-game set in a matinee contest on Thursday at Banner Island Ballpark. Hunter Adkins (0-1, 4.50 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by San Jose right-hander Joe Biagini (1-2, 3.66 ERA). First pitch is set for 11:05 a.m. PDT.