LANCASTER, Calif. - The Stockton Ports needed just one big inning and one big swing to win the opener of their series with the Lancaster JetHawks on Friday night at The Hangar. Skye Bolt highlighted a seven-run fifth inning with a two-out grand slam that put the Boys of Banner
LANCASTER, Calif. - The Stockton Ports needed just one big inning and one big swing to win the opener of their series with the Lancaster JetHawks on Friday night at The Hangar. Skye Bolt highlighted a seven-run fifth inning with a two-out grand slam that put the Boys of Banner Island in front for good as Stockton rolled to a 9-4 win over Lancaster to earn their third win in four games on a Southern California road trip.
Ports starter Parker Dunshee (3-2) retired the first seven batters he faced before giving up a one-out single to Manny Melendez followed by a walk to Carlos Herrera. Later in the inning with two on and two out, Alan Trejo doubled to the wall in left field to score both runners and give the JetHawks a 2-0 lead. Lancaster added to its lead in the fourth inning on a solo homer by Roberto Ramos to make it 3-0.
JetHawks starter Logan Longwith (1-4) retired 11 of the first 12 batters he faced in facing the minimum through four innings. In the fifth, however, Longwith gave up a leadoff walk to Jonah Heim followed by a double to Dairon Blanco that put runners at second and third. Sandber Pimentel got the Ports on the board with an infield RBI single and Luis Barrera followed with an RBI single to right that drew the Ports to within a run at 3-2. Two batters later with one out, Collin Theroux was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Kevin Merrell followed and hit into a fielder's choice force play that brought home the tying run. After Nate Mondou walked to reload the bases, Longwith was lifted for Salvador Justo who gave up a two-out grand slam to Bolt that gave the Ports a 7-3 advantage.
Longwith would suffer the loss going 4.2 innings and allowing six runs on four hits while striking out four.
After the JetHawks scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth, the Ports got the run right back in the top of the sixth as Blanco led off with a single and scored later in the inning on a sac-fly by Edwin Diaz to make it 8-4. It was the final run allowed by Justo who gave up two runs in an inning-and-a-third of relief.
Dunshee would earn the win in the contest, matching a career-high with seven innings pitched and allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out five.
Stockton's final run came in the eighth inning as Barrera earned a two-out walk facing Ben Bowden, who was then lifted for Alexander Guillen. After Barrera stole second, Guillen gave up an RBI double to Diaz that pushed the Stockton lead to 9-4.
Angel Duno tossed two scoreless innings to seal the victory for the Ports.
The Ports and JetHawks play the second game of their three-game series on Saturday night at The Hangar. Brian Howard (4-2, 2.56 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Lancaster right-hander Brandon Gold (3-3, 5.59 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. PDT.
