VISALIA, Calif. - The Stockton Ports needed just one clutch hit to overcome the Visalia Rawhide on Wednesday afternoon at Recreation Ballpark. Trailing 2-1 with two on and two out in the top of the eighth, Collin Theroux blasted a three-run homer to right-center that proved to be the difference
VISALIA, Calif. - The Stockton Ports needed just one clutch hit to overcome the Visalia Rawhide on Wednesday afternoon at Recreation Ballpark. Trailing 2-1 with two on and two out in the top of the eighth, Collin Theroux blasted a three-run homer to right-center that proved to be the difference in a 4-2 Stockton victory, setting the Ports up for a chance to sweep the series on Thursday night.
Visalia's only runs of the game came in the bottom of the first inning. With one on and one out, Ramon Hernandez hit a two-run homer to left off Ports starter Matt Milburn that gave the Rawhide a 2-0 lead. Milburn proceeded to retire the next 10 batters and would complete six innings without factoring into the decision, allowing five hits while striking out five without allowing a walk. The first inning marked the only occasion in the contest where Visalia had a runner reach third base.
Rawhide starter Emilio Vargas pitched around back-to-back two out hits in the first that put runners at second and third with two outs. He worked around a leadoff single in the second, a two-out single in the third and a base hit and walk allowed in the fifth. With one out in the sixth, Vargas gave up a triple to Dairon Blanco with one out, at which point he was lifted for Tyler Mark. Mark got Luke Persico to hit into a fielder's choice play on which the out was made at third base as Blanco was caught off the bag. Mark would then get Luis Barrera to fly out to end the inning and the threat.
Vargas would be rendered a no-decision, going 5.1 scoreless innings while allowing six hits and striking out six.
Stockton's offense finally broke through in the seventh facing Mark. Nate Mondou led off with a double, Theroux followed and drew a walk and Kevin Merrell laid down a bunt-single to load the bases with nobody out. After Melvin Mercedes struck out, Jonah Heim laced a single into right field to score Mondou and make it 2-1. It was one of three hits for Heim on the afternoon as he went 3-for-5 and extended his hit streak to 16 games. Mark, though, would get Skye Bolt to strike out swinging for the second out. Mark would escape the inning when Theroux was caught trying to advance home on a pitch in the dirt.
Kevin Ginkel (0-1) would come on to pitch the eighth for Visalia and Blanco reached to open the inning on a fielding error committed by third baseman Drew Ellis. After back-to-back flyouts, Mondou extended the inning with a single to right to put two on with two out. Theroux followed with a three-run homer to right-center that vaulted the Ports in front 4-2.
Ginkel would suffer the loss, allowing three unearned runs on two hits in his lone inning of work.
Boomer Biegalski and Angel Duno (SV, 2) would combine for three scoreless innings of relief to close out the game for the Ports. Duno would notch his second save of the season as he worked a scoreless inning-and-a-third.
The Ports and Rawhide wrap up their three-game series on Thursday night at Recreation Ballpark. Left-hander Zack Erwin (2-2, 4.05 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Visalia right-hander Kevin McCanna (1-0, 1.59 ERA). First pitch is set for 7 p.m. PDT.
