Rawhide Claim First Win Of Series 7-4

STOCKTON, Calif. - Despite the best efforts of Chad Pinder, the Stockton Ports couldn't overcome the Visalia Rawhide on Saturday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Pinder went 4-for4 with a pair of home runs, but Visalia pounded out 14 hits on their way to a 7-4 win over the Ports in the third game of their four-game set.

Stockton struck first for a pair of runs in the first inning. After an error and two walks loaded the bases, Pinder and Ryon Healy hit back-to-back RBI singles off Rawhide starter Jesse Darrah (1-0) to give the Ports a 2-0 lead.

Visalia struck back for a run in the top of the second as Alex Glenn doubled with two outs and scored on an ensuing single by Socrates Brito to make it 2-1.

In the third, the Rawhide used a bunt singles and a bit of good fortune to plate two runs and take the lead for good. After a leadoff single by Evan Marzilli, Kevin Medrano and Fidel Pena dropped down back-to-back bunt singles that loaded the bases. Brandon Drury came up next and hit a check-swing bouncer that found its way into right field, scoring two runs and giving the Rawhide a 3-2 lead.

Ports starter Seth Streich (1-1) suffered the loss, going five innings and allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out six.

Darrah went five innings for Visalia and picked up his first win of the season, allowing two unearned runs on four hits while striking out eight.

Jonathan Joseph came on in relief in the sixth and gave up a double to Drury followed by a two-run homer to Rudy Flores that extended the Rawhide lead to 5-2.

The Ports got a run back in the bottom of the inning on a leadoff home run hit by Pinder off Rawhide reliever Kyle Winkler to make it a 5-3 contest. Visalia, however, plated two more runs against Joseph in the seventh on a Flores sacrifice fly and a two-out RBI single by Ryan Court to make it 7-3.

Pinder hit his second home run of the night to lead off the eighth facing Rawhide reliever Seth Simmons. Simmons, though, would go on to retire the next three batters in a row and Jimmie Sherfie (SV, 3) struck out the side in order in the ninth to pick up the save.

The Ports and Rawhide wrap up their four-game set at Banner Island Ballpark with a Sunday matinee. Josh Bowman (0-0, 4.50 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Visalia southpaw Andrew Barbosa (1-1, 2.45 ERA). First pitch is set for 2:09 p.m. PDT.