Sac-Fly Salvages 5-4 Win For Modesto
When looking at the final results, however, the Ports might prefer the chaos of the first two games. Modesto salvaged the final game of the series on Thursday with a walk-off sac-fly in the bottom of the ninth to take the finale by a final of 5-4.
For the third straight game, the Ports were the first team to score. In the top of the first, Matt Spencer made the Nuts pay for an earlier error with an RBI single, scoring Archie Gilbert and giving the Ports a 1-0 lead.
Ports starter Graham Godfrey made the run stand tall through the first four innings. Godfrey wriggled his way out of a two-on, one-out jam in the second. In the fourth, with Matt Repec and first and one out, Jay Cox drove a ball off the wall in left-center field. On the relay throw, Repec was tagged out at the plate. Ports catcher Josh Donaldson then threw down to first where Cox was standing off the bag, and Cox was tagged out to end the inning.
Stockton's offense got another run across in the fifth on an RBI single from Adrian Cardenas to make it 2-0. It was fine final run allowed by Nuts starter Keith Weiser, who did not factor into the decision after going seven full innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits.
Modesto finally got to Godfrey in the bottom of the fifth. With two on and one out, Daniel Mayora knocked an RBI single to left to cut the Ports lead to 2-1. The Nuts tied it in the sixth on an RBI single from Repec. It was the final run allowed by Godfrey, who received a no-decision after six innings and allowing 10 hits while walking two and striking out four.
The Nuts took the lead in the seventh against Ports reliever James Heuser. Heuser gave up a leadoff triple to Travis Becktel, and after a hit batsmen and a walk, had the bases loaded with just one out. Pinch-hitter Jason Van Kooten knocked a two-run single past Cardenas at second, scoring a pair and giving Modesto a 4-2 edge.
The Ports, however, were quick to even the score in the eighth. With Nuts reliever Tommy Baumgardner on the hill, the Ports loaded the bases with one out. Jermaine Mitchell stepped up and drove a two-run double down the line in left, scoring two and knotting the game at four. Stockton then squandered a chance to take the lead, however. With runners at second and third with just one out, David Patton (3-3) got Gilbert to ground to third and Mike Massaro to strike out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth, Modesto had a chance to climb back on top. After Heuser loaded the bases with two outs, Sam Demel (3-2) came on and struck out Victor Ferrante to put out the threat and send the game to the ninth still tied.
Stockton squandered a golden opportunity in the top of the ninth. With Patton still on the mound, The Ports put runners at second and third with just one out. Patton was able to bear down and record back-to-back strikeouts of Donaldson and Raul Padron to end the inning.
Demel fell victim to a bad break in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, Demel got Mike McKenry to hit a high pop-up back to the mound. Demel was in the area, along with third baseman Chris Carter and the first baseman, Padron. Nobody called for the ball and it fell on the mound for a gift single, putting the winning run at first. Cox followed with a double down the left field line to put runners at second and third.
After an intentional walk to Nick Haley, ninth-place hitter Radames Nazario hit a sac-fly to right. Massaro's throw to the plate was late and off-line and McKenry slid across with the winning run.
Modesto's win was just their sixth against Stockton on the season. The Ports have taken 16 of 22 head-to-head with the Nuts.
After taking two of three against Modesto, the Ports will head to Visalia over the weekend for a three-game series with the Oaks. Craig Italiano (0-3, 11.17 ERA) will head to the bump for Stockton, opposed by right-hander Chad Beck (3-4, 5.02 ERA) for the Oaks. First pitch from Recreation Park is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.