Ports Edged in Extras, Skid Reaches Eight

Box Score

STOCKTON, Ca. – The Ports outhit the Modesto Nuts 11-8 but dropped their eighth straight game in a 10-7 loss in 11 innings on Thursday night at Banner Island Ballpark.

Trailing 2-0 after three innings, the Ports (33-66) got on the board and tied the ballgame in the bottom of the fourth. With Danny Bautista at first base after a hit by pitch, Junior Perez hit a one-out double down the left field line to score Bautista from first and trim the Modesto lead to 2-1. After Perez stole third, Jalen Greer dropped a bunt that Nuts’ starter Jake Miedna failed to field cleanly allowing Perez to score to tie the game at two.

In the top of the fifth, however, the Nuts (51-48) reclaimed the lead. Axel Sanchez launched a solo homer to left field to make it 3-2, and after a single and a wild pitch Harry Ford lined a single to center to score Milkar Perez making it 4-2.

After the two clubs exchanged single runs in the sixth and seventh gave the Nuts a 5-3 lead going into the bottom of the eighth, the Ports stormed back again to tie the game. Mariano Ricciardi led off with an infield single and after pinch-runner Marcos Brito took second on a wild pitch, T.J. Schofield-Sam drove him home with a double down the right field line to get the Ports to within one at 5-4. Perez then served a single to center field to score Schofield-Sam from second base to tie the game at five.

After both teams failed to score in the ninth, the two clubs exchanged two-run tenth innings. With runners on second and third and two outs, Axel Sanchez clubbed a double over the head of Bautista in left to drive home two to give the Nuts a 7-5 lead.

The Ports came back to tie it in the bottom half. With Bautista starting the inning at second base, Schofield-Sam singled to right field and stole second base to put runners on second and third with nobody out. After Perez popped out, Wilson Alvarez came through with a two-run single up the middle to tie the game at seven.

The Nuts, however, took the lead for good in the top of the 11th inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Jonatan Clase drew a walk against Stockton reliever Ed Baram to force home the go-ahead run making it 8-7. After Baram walked Hogan Windish to force home another, Walking Cabrera brought home another run with an RBI groundout to first base to give the Nuts a 10-7 lead.

The Ports went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning to end the ballgame.

Nuts reliever Jose Geraldo picked up the win for Modesto despite allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits over 2.2 innings. Baram (0-1) took the loss for Stockton surrendering five runs (three earned) on two hits in 1.1 innings. Modesto lefty Raul Alcantara picked up his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth.

The Ports and Nuts continue their six-game series on Friday night with game four at 7:05 pm at Banner Island Ballpark. Tickets are available at stocktonports.com or by calling (209) 644-1900