STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports lost a second straight game by a 4-3 final on Saturday night at Banner Island Ballpark. It was the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes flexing some late muscle as a pair of solo home runs over the final two innings proved to be the difference in
STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports lost a second straight game by a 4-3 final on Saturday night at Banner Island Ballpark. It was the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes flexing some late muscle as a pair of solo home runs over the final two innings proved to be the difference in the contest as the Ports dropped their second straight game following their Opening Night victory.
For a third straight contest, the Ports opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. The Ports loaded the bases with one out and Jeremy Eierman provided a sac-fly to left that gave Stockton an early 1-0 lead. The Ports made it a 2-0 advantage in the third as Austin Beck doubled with one out and scored two batters later on an RBI single by Eierman.
Quakes starter Bryan Warzek would not factor into the decision as he went 3 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on four hits while striking out five.
Ports starter Brady Feigl, making his California League debut, did not allow a hit over his first 3 2/3 innings. With two outs and the bases empty in the fourth, Feigl gave up a double to Carlos Rincon followed by an RBI single to Donovan Casey that scored Rincon and made it 2-1. The throw to the plate bounced away from Ports catcher Jordan Devencenzi, an error that allowed Casey to take second. Casey went on to score on an ensuing single by Marcus Chiu that tied the game at 2-2.
The two fourth-inning runs were the only runs allowed by Feigl in an otherwise successful debut. The right-hander went five innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits while walking one and striking out eight.
After two innings of scoreless relief worked by Will Gilbert, Seth Martinez (0-1) came on to work the eighth in his Cal-League debut. With two outs and the bases empty, Connor Wong hit a solo home run to right that broke the tie and gave the Quakes a 3-2 lead. Martinez would work the ninth and gave up a one-out solo homer to Chiu that stretched the Quakes lead to 4-2.
Martinez suffered the loss, going two innings and allowing two runs on two hits while striking out three.
After Max Gamboa worked 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief for the Quakes, Jordan Sheffield (1-0) took over in the seventh and worked two scoreless innings as he went on to notch the victory.
Wes Helsabeck (SV, 1) came on to work the ninth and set down the first two batters of the frame. Mickey McDonald extended the inning with an infield single and Nick Allen came up next and hit an RBI double to left that drew the Ports to within a run at 4-3. Lazaro Armenteros followed and crushed a ball to the left field wall, but it hung up for Casey on the warning track as he made the catch and ended the ballgame. Helsabeck survived the hard contact to pick up his first save of the season.
The Ports and Quakes wrap up their four-game set on Sunday afternoon at Banner Island Ballpark. Wyatt Marks (0-0, 0.00 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Quakes right-hander Gerardo Carrillo (0-0, 0.00 ERA). First pitch is set for 2:09 p.m. PDT.
