Bakersfield Blaze Sweep the Stockton Ports After 2-1 Win in Game Three of Series

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com – STOCKTON, Calif. - With an early 10:35 a.m. start time on Wednesday, the Stockton Ports offense was looking for a wake-up call. For the third straight game, however, it lay sleeping, as Stockton mustered just one run on three hits in a 2-1 loss to the Bakersfield Blaze. The Ports’ loss gave Bakersfield a series sweep, and left both teams with ea 3-4 record on the season.
 
As was the case in most instances in the series, Stockton’s pitching was not the problem. Starter Henry Rodriguez was dominant for the second straight outing, tossing six shutout innings while striking out eight and allowing just two hits. Rodriguez scattered just two singles and worked around two defensive errors in a strong effort.
 
For the first time in the series, the Ports grabbed the lead first. In the bottom of the second, Jed Morris got his first hit of the season--a solo home run to right-center to give Stockton a 1-0 lead.  For the Ports, it was just one of two hits they got off Blaze starter and Galt High School graduate Zachary Phillips, who was nearly as brilliant as Rodriguez. Phillips tossed five innings and allowed just the run on two hits while striking out 10.
 

ADVERTISEMENT Stockton clung to a 1-0 lead up until the eighth inning, when Bakersfield finally broke through against the Ports bullpen. With reliever James Heuser on the hill to start the eighth, the Blaze got back-to-back doubles from Jacob Kasse and Jose Vallejo to tie the score at one. Two batters later, Heuser was taken from the game after walking John Whittleman. Andrew Carrignan (0-1) came on next and walked Chad Tracy to load the bases. Carignan was able to escape further damage in the inning, though, when he got Grant Gerrard to ground into an inning-ending fielder’s choice.
 
Bakersfield, after tying the game in the eighth, took their first lead in the top of the ninth. With Carignan still on the hill, K.C. Herren drew a one-out walk and promptly stole second. Chris Gradoville followed with a single to right and Herren was called safe on a close play at the plate, giving the Blaze a 2-0 edge. Carignan got the final two outs to end the inning, but was tagged with the loss after allowing the go-ahead run to score in his 1.1 innings of work.
 
In the top of the ninth, the Ports had a good opportunity to tie the game while facing Blaze right-hander Jordan Stewart (1-0). After two quick outs, Sean Doolittle singled to left and Morris reached on an error by Vallejo, the second baseman. With the tying and winning runs aboard, Stewart was able to get Chris Carter to fly to center to end the game. Stewart was credited with the win after tossing two scoreless innings to end the game for Bakersfield.
 
Stockton ends their opening homestand with a 3-4 record, and will now head out on a seven-game road trip beginning on Thursday in Modesto. Southpaw Brett Anderson (1-0) will make the start for the Ports at John Thurman Field, opposed by Simon Ferrer (0-1, 5.40 ERA) for Modesto. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PST.
 

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