Stockton Offense Sputters In 2-1 Loss

VISALIA, Calif. - The Stockton Ports' offense was held in check on Monday night at Recreation Ballpark. The Ports mustered just one run on a solo homer by Robert Mullen as the Visalia Rawhide got a stellar pitching performance from Justin Vernia (7-2) in sending the Ports to a 2-1 loss to open a three-game series.
Visalia scored the first run of the contest in the bottom of the first on a one-out RBI single by Yoel Yanqui, who drove in both Rawhide runs on the night.
Stockton, after being blanked through the first four innings, got a leadoff homer from Mullen in the fifth to tie the game at 1-1. Vernia, after surrendering the home run, would go on to set down nine of his final 10 batters to close his outing. He earned the win, going seven innings and allowing four hits while walking three and striking out eight.
Ports starter Brady Feigl (5-10) gave up the go-ahead run in the ensuing half-inning. After setting down the first two hitters, Feigl gave up three straight two-out singles, the last one hit by Yanqui to drive in Jancarlos Cintron and give the Rawhide a 2-1 lead.
Feigl would suffer the loss, going five innings and allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out five.
Cameron Gann and Breckin Williams (SV, 16) would each work a scoreless inning down the stretch for Visalia with Williams notching his 16^th save of the season. Angel Duno and Trey Cochran-Gill combined to work three scoreless innings out of the bullpen for Stockton.
The Ports and Rawhide play the second game of their three-game series on Tuesday night at Recreation Ballpark. Mitchell Jordan (9-7, 4.72 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Visalia right-hander Shumpei Yoshikawa (5-6, 3.67 ERA). First pitch is set for 7 p.m. PDT.