STOCKTON, Calif. – The Cheladas (31-29, 58-68) could not hold on to a late lead after two home runs powered an initial comeback, dropping the series finale 10-7.
The Tower Buzzers (36-24, 69-57) scored the opening run in the top of the second inning on an Abel Lorenzo RBI double to make it 1-0. An RBI fielder’s choice in the third from Javier Herrera made it 2-0. The big rally for Ontario came in the fifth, scoring four runs with an RBI-single from Herrera, bases-loaded walk for Ching-Hsien Ko, and two-RBI single from Joendry Vargas made it 6-0.
Stockton’s comeback efforts began in the bottom of the fifth, Shotaro Morii’s leadoff triple (3) and Michael Brooks doubled (13) him home to make it 6-1. Then a pair of two-run home runs cut it to 6-5, first a missile to left field from Drew Burress (7), and a skyward longball to right for Bobby Blandford (18).
Ontario went to the bullpen immediately after the home runs, but Bryan Andrade and Max Durrington both singled to try and continue the rally before back-to-back punchouts ended the Stockton threat, an opportunity that would later be missed.
Stockton would tie it on a bases-loaded hit by pitch taken by Blandford making it 6-6 in the eighth, then an Andrade sacrifice fly gave Stockton their first lead of the night, 7-6 after eight innings.
The ninth-inning would not go smoothly for Stockton, Ontario started with three consecutive hits capped with an RBI-single from Bryan Gonzalez to tie it 7-7. Lorenzo scored the go-ahead run on an RBI groundout for an 8-7 lead. A bases-loaded walk and additional RBI fielder’s choice made it 10-7, the final score of the night. Stockton would go down in order in the bottom of the final frame.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Stockton is still just one game behind Fresno in the California League North second-half standings with the Grizzlies losing their series finale to Inland Empire.
UP NEXT: The Ports travel to Visalia for game one of the series. Tuesday’s game is scheduled for a 6:35 PM first pitch.
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