Stockton Offense Lags In 7-3 Loss

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports mustered just four hits on Wednesday night at Banner Island Ballpark. The Lancaster JetHawks used a four-run fifth inning as the centerpiece of a 7-3 win over the Ports to open a three-game series.
Ports starter Zack Erwin (7-7) retired the first seven batters he faced before giving up a one-out double to Brian Serven in the third. Two batters later Manny Melendez delivered a two-out RBI single to center to give the JetHawks a 1-0 lead.
Erwin would suffer his worst inning of the night in the fifth. With one on and one out, Serven hit a two-run homer to left to run the Lancaster lead to 3-0. With two outs in the frame, Melendez singled, Carlos Herrera doubled to drive him home and Herrera scored on an RBI single by Colton Welker to make it a 5-0 game.
Erwin would suffer the loss, going five innings and allowing five runs on seven hits while striking out two.
JetHawks starter Logan Longwith worked into the fifth inning without allowing a run. Longwith would allow a leadoff triple to Brett Siddall in the fifth followed by an RBI single to Edwin Diaz to get Stockton on the board. Longwith was then lifted for Juan Pena (3-0), who escaped the inning without further damage.
Longwith would not factor into the decision, going four-plus innings and allowing one run on three hits while striking out five. Pena would pick up the win after tossing two scoreless frames.
The Ports cut the lead to two runs after scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh off JetHawks reliever Salvador Justo. With runners at second and third and one out, Collin Theroux drove in a run with a sac-fly to right. Brallan Perez added a two-out RBI single to make it a 5-3 contset.
After three perfect innings worked by Pat Krall, Trey Cochran-Gill took over in the ninth and surrendered a leadoff home run to Vince Fernandez. Later in the inning with two outs and the bases empty, Serven doubled and scored on an ensuing RBI single by Max George to make it 7-3.
Justin Lawrence and Kenny Oakley pitched a perfect eighth and ninth, respectively, to close out the ballgame for Lancaster.
The Ports and JetHawks play the middle game of their three-game set on Thursday at Banner Island Ballpark. Kyle Friedrichs (1-0, 1.50 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by JetHawks right-hander Antonio Santos (1-1, 5.50 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PDT.