SAN JOSE, Calif. - The Stockton Ports narrowly avoided matching their biggest collapse of the season on Thursday afternoon at Municipal Stadium. Instead, the Ports rallied from three runs down in the ninth to tie the game and ultimately scored two in the 10th to complete a sweep of the
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The Stockton Ports narrowly avoided matching their biggest collapse of the season on Thursday afternoon at Municipal Stadium. Instead, the Ports rallied from three runs down in the ninth to tie the game and ultimately scored two in the 10th to complete a sweep of the San Jose Giants, taking Thursday's contest by a final of 11-10 in what was a wild affair to close out a three-game series and a six-game road trip. For the Ports, the win marked their third series sweep of the season.
Stockton amassed a 6-0 lead beginning with five runs in the third. Collin Theroux hit his first of two home runs on the afternoon to give the Ports a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning with two on and one out, Jonah Heim hit a two-run double to make it 3-0 and Will Toffey followed with his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to run the Ports lead to 5-0.
The Ports added a run in the fourth on a sac-fly by Skye Bolt to make it a 6-0 advantage. The first six runs were allowed by Giants starter Raffi Vizcaino who was rendered a no-decision after going four innings and allowing six runs on six hits while walking four and striking out two.
Ports starter Matt Milburn pitched three perfect innings to open his outing but hit a rough patch to open the fourth. Milburn allowed back-to-back doubles to Bryce Johnson and Jalen Miller that put the Giants on the board. After a C.J Hinojosa single put runners at the corners, Gio Brusa hit a sac-fly to right field to make it 6-2.
Milburn would pitch into the fifth but fail to make it out of the frame. With one out, Matt Winn singled, Johneshwy Fargas walked and Johnson delivered an BRI double to right-center to make it 6-3. Miller followed with a two-run single to pull the Giants to within a run at 6-5. After Milburn gave up a single to Hinojosa, he was lifted for Will Gilbert who got Brusa to ground out, bringing in a sixth run to tie the contest. After Wander Franco singled to put two aboard, Sandro Fabian reached on a fielding error committed by Toffey at third base that loaded the bases and kept the inning alive. Kelvin Beltre was then hit by a pitch to bring in a run that gave the Giants their first lead. Winn followed and delivered a two-run single to left that opened up a 9-6 San Jose advantage.
Milburn would also be rendered a no-decision, going 4.1 innings and allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits while striking out seven. Gilbert would pitch an inning-and-two-thirds and allow two unearned runs on two hits.
Stockton's offense was held in check by Dylan Rheault, who pitched three scoreless innings in relief of Vizcaino. Rodolfo Martinez took over in the eighth and pitched around a two-out triple by Luis Barrera to keep it a three-run game. Martinez, trying for the save, pitched into the ninth and gave up a leadoff home run to Theroux, his second of the afternoon to bring the Ports to within two runs at 9-7. Kevin Merrell followed with an infield single and, two batters later, scored on a one-out single to right by Skye Bolt to make it 9-8. Two batters later with Bolt at first base and two outs, Toffey came up and, with Bolt in motion, grounded a single into right field. Bolt never slowed down as he rounded third and headed for home to score standing up just ahead of the throw in from the right fielder Fabian to tie the game at 9-9.
Martinez would suffer his second blown save of the season as he allowed three runs on five hits in two innings of work.
After Angel Duno (2-0) pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth, Nolan Riggs (1-3) took over for the Giants in the 10th. After Barrera struck out trying to get a bunt down with the free runner at second base, Brallan Perez was summoned to pinch-hit and delivered an RBI double down the left field line to score Luke Persico with the go-ahead run. Theroux came up next and reached on a throwing error committed by the shortstop Hinojosa which allowed Perez to score and give the Ports an 11-9 advantage.
Riggs would suffer the loss, allowing two unearned runs on one hit in his lone inning of work.
Miguel Romero (SV, 13) came on to pitch the 10th and gave up a single to Franco that put runners at the corners with nobody out. Romero would get Fabian to hit into a 6-4-3 double-play that brought a run in to make it 11-10. After Beltre singled to extend the ballgame, Winn came up and hit into a fielder's choice force play at second to end the contest.
Romero notched his 13th save of the season and secured the win for Duno after he worked a scoreless ninth.
The Ports close out their six-game road trip with a 5-1 record and open a seven-game homestand on Friday night at Banner Island Ballpark beginning with a three-game series versus the Visalia Rawhide. Left-hander Zack Erwin (5-3, 4.28 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Visalia right-hander Connor Grey (4-3, 4.70 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.
