STOCKTON, Calif. – A nine-run third inning for Visalia (18-27, 46-65) powered them to a 15-7 win over the Ports (24-21, 51-60) and gave them a 2-1 lead in the six-game series.
The Ports had a 2-0 lead after the first inning. A Michael Brooks single was followed by a Drew Burress double (2) before a sac fly for Roman Martin and an RBI groundout off the bat Gavin Turley put Stockton up by a pair.
Visalia would take the lead in the top of the second with a four-run frame on four hits, including a home run and two doubles along with two wild pitches by Shotaro Morii. But the Ports got an RBI double (1) from Alex Hernandez in the bottom of the inning to cut it back down to a 4-3 deficit.
The Rawhide would send 14 batters to plate in the third inning however, racking up nine runs on seven hits against Luis Burgos. It looked like Pedro Blanco had his 15th home run of the year with a runner on early in the inning, but it would be ruled a double off the top of the wall. But four RBI singles, an RBI double later, and an error plated five runs to give Visalia a 10-3 advantage. Blanco would leave no doubt he got his 15th home run as the 11th batter of the inning, belting a 447-foot shot out to right center for a 13-3 lead.
Each team scored a pair of runs in the fourth, with Visalia blasting another two-run homer onto the roof of the Black Oak Casino Back Porch in the top of the frame. A sac fly from Brooks and an RBI double (3) for Burress led to the 15-5 final.
Fresno lost 5-0 to San Jose, so the Ports remain just a game behind the Grizzlies for first place.
UP NEXT: Game four is scheduled for a 7:05 PM first pitch with RHP Dean Livingston (3-3, 3.58) for Visalia versus RHP Donny Troconis (0-6, 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.