LAKE ELSINORE, Calif.- The Stockton Ports scored two early runs on Tuesday night at The Diamond. The Lake Elsinore Storm, though, scored five of the last six runs in the game. The Storm, behind a strong outing from starting pitcher Luis Patiño (3-4), scored five runs between the third and
LAKE ELSINORE, Calif.- The Stockton Ports scored two early runs on Tuesday night at The Diamond. The Lake Elsinore Storm, though, scored five of the last six runs in the game. The Storm, behind a strong outing from starting pitcher Luis Patiño (3-4), scored five runs between the third and fifth innings and went on to hand the Ports a 5-3 loss to open a three-game series.
The Ports loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the first inning and scored the first run of the game when Alfonso Rivas drew a bases-loaded walk from Pitino. At that point, Pitino would go on to retire the next 18 consecutive batters to close out his outing, which included an RBI groundout in the first by Trace Loehr to make it 2-0.
Pitino would go on to pick up the victory, tossing six innings and allowing two runs on one hit while walking two and striking out six.
Ports starter Brady Feigl (3-2) escaped a bases-loaded jam with one out in the first and set the side down in order in the second. In the third, however, Feigl gave up a leadoff homer to Esteury Ruiz that got the Storm on the board. In the fourth, with one on and two out, Olivier Basabe hit a two-run blast to left field to vault the Storm in front 3-2. Feigl worked into the fifth and had runners at second and third with nobody out to start the inning. Jeisson Rosario grounded out to the right side to drive in a run and advance Robbie Padorsky to third. Padorsky scored on an ensuing sac-fly by Gabriel Arias that gave the Storm a 5-2 advantage.
Feigl would suffer the loss, going five innings and allowing five runs on seven hits while striking out one.
Nick Highberger and Seth Martinez combined to work the final three innings scoreless for Stockton.
Caleb Boushley came on in relief of Patino to start the seventh and gave up a leadoff double to Austin Beck, who scored two batters later on a sac-fly by Jeremy Eierman to cut the Storm lead to 5-3. Boushley worked into the eighth and gave up back-to-back singles to Nick Allen and Jameson Hannah to open the inning. After striking out Lazaro Armenteros, Boushley was lifted for Evan Miller (SV, 6), who got back-to-back outs to end the inning.
Miller would close out the game for the Storm, giving up a one-out double to Eierman in the ninth but getting back-to-back outs to leave Eierman stranded and notch his sixth save of the season.
Tuesday's contest marked the first time this season where Ports pitching did not issue a walk in a game.
The Ports and Storm play the middle game of their three-game series on Wednesday night at The Diamond. Jharel Cotton will make the start for the Ports on a Major League rehab assignment, opposed by Lake Elsinore right-hander Ronald Bolaños (3-1, 3.58 ERA). First pitch is set for 6 p.m. PDT.
