RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. - The Stockton Ports earned their California League-best 14th road win in nail-biting fashion on Tuesday night at Loan Mart Field. Ports closer Miguel Romero (SV, 9) earned his ninth save of the season by escaping a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the ninth inning to help Stockton
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. - The Stockton Ports earned their California League-best 14th road win in nail-biting fashion on Tuesday night at Loan Mart Field. Ports closer Miguel Romero (SV, 9) earned his ninth save of the season by escaping a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the ninth inning to help Stockton notch a 4-3 victory to open a six-game Southern California road trip.
The Ports struck the first blow in the top of the third as Nate Mondou hit a two-run homer off Quakes starter Dean Kremer to give Stockton a 2-0 lead. Kremer would not factor into the decision as he went two-and-two-thirds innings and allowed three hits while striking out four.
Rancho Cucamonga was quick to tie the score in the bottom of the third. With one out, Gavin Lux singled and Rylan Bannon followed with an RBI double to left that cut the Ports lead to 2-1. Bannon scored two batters later on a two-out RBI single by Cristian Santana to tie the score at 2-2.
Stockton plated two runs for a second straight inning in the top of the fourth facing Quakes reliever Logan Salow (0-1). With runners at the corners and one out, Edwin Diaz delivered an RBI single to right to put the Ports in front 3-2. With runners still at the corners, Kevin Merrell dropped a bunt-single down the first base line to score a second run and make it a 4-2 advantage.
Salow would suffer the loss, going an inning-and-a-third and allowing two runs on two hits while walking two.
Ports starter Zack Erwin (3-3) pitched into the sixth inning and gave up a leadoff single to Jeren Kendall, who proceeded to steal second. Erwin then surrendered an RBI single to Omar Estevez, at which point he was lifted for Angel Duno who pitched around a walk to escape the sixth without any further damage.
Erwin would pick up his third win of the season, going five-plus innings and allowing three runs on seven this while walking two and striking out four.
Duno pitched two scoreless innings for the Ports and did not allow a hit while striking out two.
Romero came on to pitch the eighth and set the side down in order in his first frame. In the ninth, Romero gave up a leadoff single to Nick Yarnall. After recording a strikeout, Romero surrendered a double to Lux that put runners at second and third with one out. The Ports elected to give Bannon an intentional free pass that loaded the bases. Romero saw the count run full to his next batter, Connor Wong, but struck Wong out on a 3-2 off-speed pitch for the second out. Santana came up next and grounded out weakly to third to end the ballgame.
For the Ports, it marked their eighth win in 10 games this season versus the Quakes.
The Ports and Quakes play the middle game of their three-game series on Wednesday night at Loan Mart Field. Jake Bray (1-1, 2.27 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Rancho Cucamonga right-hander Chris Mathewson (1-0, 5.54 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PDT.
