STOCKTON, Calif. – Another one-run victory for the Ports puts them a game ahead of Fresno and tied with San Jose for first place in the Cal League North second-half standings, as Stockton pulled out a back-and-forth affair with a 6-5 win over Visalia. The Ports have a 3-2 lead in the series with a chance to win it on Sunday.
Visalia scored in the top of the first on a sac fly from Pedro Blanco, but Stockton answered quickly in the bottom of the inning. Singles for Michael Brooks and Bobby Blandford were followed by a two-RBI triple for Alex Hernadez (1) to make it 2-1 Ports, and Hernandez would score on a wild pitch for a 3-1 Stockton advantage.
The Rawhide got a run back in the top of the second on an RBI single from Paul Schoenfeld to cut it to a 3-2 game. Visalia scored two in the fourth to take a lead on RBI singles from Schoenfeld and Titus Cissell to go up 4-3. They would tack on another in the fifth on a Victor Santana sac fly to give them a 5-3 lead.
But the Ports went ahead for good in the bottom of the sixth. Singles for Max Durrington and Drew Burress put two aboard with one away for Bobby Blandford, who came in hitting .317 with runners in scoring position on the season. On a 1-2 count, Blandford would pummel a ball 399 feet out to deep right field for his 17th long ball of the season and gave Stockton a 6-5 lead.
Cole Miller and Kade Brown each worked scoreless innings to set up Jackson Holmes for a save opportunity. Holmes would get around a pair of singles with three strikeouts to lock down his fifth save of the season and close out the victory.
Mason Patel earned his first win as a pro with two innings of one run ball. Jackson Phipps got the start and allowed four runs over four innings on seven hits and just one walk with six punchouts.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: The Ports are now 15-10 in one run games and 27-10 when they don’t make an error. Blandford’s 17 dingers are good for a tie for second on the Cal League leader board.
UP NEXT: The series finale is scheduled for a 5:00 PM first pitch with RHP Mervin Fell (1-6, 7.16) starting for Visalia versus RHP Josiah Romeo (7-4, 6.85) for Stockton.
Single game tickets, mini plans, and group outings are all on sale for the 2026 season. For more information, call the Ports front office at 209-644-1400 or email at info@stocktonports.com.