RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. - The Stockton Ports dominated their season series with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in 2018 and they ended it on a high note Thursday night at Loan Mart Field. The Ports, who won nine of the 12 games played with the Quakes on the season, scored five
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. - The Stockton Ports dominated their season series with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in 2018 and they ended it on a high note Thursday night at Loan Mart Field. The Ports, who won nine of the 12 games played with the Quakes on the season, scored five runs in the sixth inning on their way to a 6-2 victory in the rubber game of a three-game series.
After stranding seven baserunners through the first three innings, the Ports took advantage of an error to score the first run of the contest in the fourth. With runners at first and third and one out, Quakes starter Andrew Sopko made an errant pick-off throw to first base that allowed Edwin Diaz to score and give the Ports a 1-0 lead.
Stockton starter Dustin Hurlbutt, making his first appearance of the season coming from extended spring training, would pitch three-and-two-thirds scoreless innings without allowing a hit while striking out five. Hurlbutt was lifted after a two-out walk issued in the fourth but Evan Manarino (1-0), also making his first appearance of the season, stranded the inherited runner to end the inning.
Rancho Cucamonga would jump ahead in the bottom of the fifth with its only two runs of the ballgame. Donovan Casey and Cody Thomas reached on back-to-back hits to start the inning that put runners at second and third with nobody out. Hamlet Marte drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly to left and the Quakes added a second run on a wild pitch thrown by Manarino to make it a 2-1 game.
The Ports would pull ahead for good in the top of the sixth. Luke Persico started the inning with a base hit off of Sopko, at which point he was lifted for Jason Richman (1-5). Richman gave up a single to Luis Barrera and after a sacrifice bunt advanced both runners into scoring position, Kevin Merrell delivered a two-run double down the left field line that vaulted the Ports in front 3-2. Nate Mondou followed with an infield single that was fielded by the pitcher Richman. Richman then made an errant throw to first that allowed Merrell to score to make it 4-2. Three batters later, with two on and two out, Dairon Blanco delivered a two-run triple to right-center that ballooned the Ports lead to 6-2.
Richman would suffer the loss, going two innings and allowing four runs on six hits. Sopko allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits in five-plus innings.
Manarino would pick up the win in the contest, going 2.1 innings and allowing two runs on five hits while striking out two. Will Gilbert pitched two perfect innings in relief and Andrew Tomasovich worked a scoreless ninth for Stockton.
Ryan Moseley pitch the final two innings for Rancho Cucamonga without allowing a run.
Barrera went 4-for-5 on the night for Stockton with four singles and a run scored. Merrell and Blanco each drove in two of the six Stockton runs.
After taking two of three from the Quakes, the Ports head to Lancaster to open a three-game series with the JetHawks on Friday night at The Hangar. Parker Dunshee (2-2, 2.66 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Lancaster right-hander Logan Longwith (1-3, 7.78 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. PDT.
