VISALIA, Calif. - The three-game series between the Stockton Ports and Visalia Rawhide came full-circle on Thursday night at Recreation Ballpark. The Ports, who trailed 1-0 and were down to their final out before rallying for a win in extra innings on Tuesday night, saw the Rawhide do the same
VISALIA, Calif. - The three-game series between the Stockton Ports and Visalia Rawhide came full-circle on Thursday night at Recreation Ballpark. The Ports, who trailed 1-0 and were down to their final out before rallying for a win in extra innings on Tuesday night, saw the Rawhide do the same thing to close the series on Thursday. Down to their final out and trailing 1-0, Visalia got a game-tying home run from Alex King and then overcame a one-run deficit in the 10th to hand the Ports a 3-2 loss in the rubber game of a three-game series.
After Matt Andriese pitched a scoreless first inning on Major League rehab for Visalia, Shumpei Yoshikawa took over in the second and went on to toss six quality innings. Yoshikawa would allow an unearned run in the sixth as Payton Squier singled to open the frame and, two batters later, wind up at third on a throwing error committed by third baseman Luis Alejandro Basabe. Alfonso Rivas followed with a sac-fly to left field that scored Squier and gave Stockton a 1-0 lead that they held until there were two outs in the ninth.
Yoshikawa would not factor into the decision as he allowed an unearned run on three hits while striking out seven in six innings of work.
Ports starter Brady Feigl, in search of his first win since June 12, turned in one of his best starts of the season. Feigl would throw six scoreless innings while scattering four hits, walking one and striking out seven as he'd be rendered a no-decision.
After Jake Bray pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth, Nick Highberger (5-4) took over in the ninth and recorded two quick outs. King, though, would come up with two away and hit the game-tying homer to left field that sent the game into extras.
Breckin Williams (4-1) came on to work the 10th for Visalia and gave up a one-out RBI single to Jordan Devencenzi that gave Stockton a 2-1 lead.
Highberger would return for the 10th and, with the free runner at second, gave up a single to Eduardo Diaz and then hit Alek Thomas to load the bases with nobody out. With the infield in, Basabe came up and lined a two-run game-winning single into left field to give Visalia a 3-2 victory.
Williams notched the victory for Visalia while Highberger suffered the blown save and the loss for Stockton.
The Ports return home on Friday to begin a three-game series with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. Right-hander Marco Estrada starts on a Major League rehab assignment for Stockton, opposed by Rancho Cucamonga right-hander Andre Jackson (3-1, 3.79 ERA). First pitch at Banner Island Ballpark is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.
