VISALIA, Calif. – The Ports clawed back from an early deficit to get within a run on Tuesday night, but ultimately dropped game one of the six game series 6-5 in Visalia. Luckily for the Ports, Fresno coughed up a lead against San Jose and lost in the ninth to keep Stockton just a game behind the Grizzlies.
After Stockton (31-30, 58-69) didn’t convert on a bases-loaded opportunity in the top of the second, Visalia (25-36, 53-74) got out to an early lead against starter Alex Barr in the bottom of the inning. A double and three singles started the frame for the Rawhide to give them a 1-0 lead. Another RBI single made it a 2-0 game before a passed ball created a 3-0 Visalia advantage.
The Ports got on the board in the third when Drew Burress doubled (5) into the left field corner to score Michael Brooks, though Burress would be thrown out trying to stretch the double into a triple. Stockton stranded two more runners in that third frame, but got another run in the fourth on an RBI double (6) by Ramon Landaeta down the first base line to cut it to a 3-2 deficit. However, the Ports would strand two more runners after that on a night where they left eight on base.
A solo home run for Pedro Blanco (17) started the bottom of the sixth and back-to-back doubles by the Rawhide gave them their three-run lead back at 5-2. A leadoff triple (2) for Ryder Helfrick was followed by a sac fly to put Visalia up 6-2 in the seventh.
Stockton made things interesting in the eighth when Bobby Blandford led off the inning with his 19th home run of the year 427 feet out to center to make it a 6-3 game. A double for Roman Martin (8) into right followed before he stole third (7) and scored on a balk to cut it to a 6-4 Visalia lead.
Edgar Montero’s third hit of the game plated Bryan Andrade to cut it to one at 6-5 after Andrade singled up the middle and advanced to second on another balk. But the Ports would ground into their second double play of the night after that followed by a strikeout to leave Montero on base.
The Ports had a couple of base hits from Brooks and Blandford but also some hard-hit outs to thwart the potentially ninth-inning comeback and hand the Ports the 6-5 loss.
UP NEXT: Game two is scheduled for a 6:35 PM first pitch with RHP Connor Foley (0-4, 6.27) starting for Visalia versus LHP Corey Braun (5-8, 6.37) for Stockton.