66ers Blank Ports 4-0 To Take Series

May 6, 2018

STOCKTON, Calif. - For the second time in three games and for a fifth time on the season, the Stockton Ports were shut out on Sunday afternoon at Banner Island Ballpark. The Inland Empire 66ers scored three runs in the fifth inning and held the Ports to just five hits on their way to handing Stockton a 4-0 loss in the rubber game of a three-game series.
Stockton's best scoring chance of the afternoon came in the bottom of the third inning. With runners at second and third and one out, 66ers starter Nate Bertness (1-2) recorded back-to-back strikeouts of Melvin Mercedes and Jonah Heim to escape trouble. It would mark the first and only time the Ports had a runner reach base in the contest.
Bertness would pick up his first win of the season, going five innings and allowing three hits while walking four and striking out five.
Ports starter Parker Dunshee (2-1) would pitch around four hits scattered over the first four innings to keep the game scoreless going into the fifth. In the top of the fifth, Dunshee surrendered a leadoff home run to Kevin Williams Jr. that gave the 66ers the initial 1-0 lead. After Jordan Zimmerman and Alberto Triunfel hit back-to-back singles, they were moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Richie Facteau. The bunt set up Luis Rengifo for a two-run single to right that stretched the 66ers lead to 3-0.
Dunshee suffered his first loss of the season, going 5.1 innings and allowing three runs on a career-high nine hits while walking two and striking out three.
Inland Empire's final run of the afternoon came on a leadoff home run in the eighth by Jahmai Jones, who'd previously been 0-for-11 in the series. The homer came off Brendan Butler and it was the only run he surrendered in two innings of relief. Andrew Tomasovich and Angel Duno combined for an inning-and-two-thirds of scoreless relief down the stretch.
Tyler Stevens and Aaron Cox combined to pitch four scoreless innings to close out the contest for the 66ers.
After going 3-4 on their seven-game homestand, the Ports embark on a seven-game road trip following an off-day on Monday as they open a three-game series with the Visalia Rawhide on Tuesday night. Brian Howard (2-2, 2.42 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Visalia right-hander Bo Takahashi (3-1, 2.61 ERA). First pitch at Recreation Ballpark is set for 6 p.m. PDT.