Grand Comeback Comes Up Just Short in 8-7 Loss to Visalia

STOCKTON, Calif. — The Stockton Ports had their four-game win streak snapped on Friday night, but capped a five-run sixth inning with a grand slam from Luke Mann to make it a one run game, and set up a thrilling finish that saw Visalia hang on for an 8-7 over the Ports.

It was a night of long balls for the Ports (8-15), as a two run shot from Nate Nankil after a Myles Naylor double put Stockton ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the first. The Rawhide (11-13) scratched across a run in the top of the first on two seeing-eye singles and two fielder’s choices against rehabbing Big Leaguer, Scott Alexander.

It was the nine-year veteran’s first game of the season after making only two appearances in spring training, and the lefty reliever looked pretty close to what he and the Oakland A’s probably expected, getting four ground balls and a strike out looking.

But a double, a single, and a double produced three runs for Visalia against Corey Avant, before a grounder with an error at second led to two more runners scoring in the Rawhide’s five-run second inning.

Visalia would get one more in the third before TJ Czyz struck out three-straight batters to end the threat. The Rawhide got a run on a solo shot to center in the fourth, but that would the only run the Consumnes River College product would allow in three strong innings with six strikeouts and no walks.

Reliever Ryan Brown worked 3.2 scoreless innings to keep the Ports in striking distance, and strike they did in the sixth. Ryan Lasko swung at strike three with the bases loaded and two outs, but the pitch was wild and rattled around the backstop, allowing Darlyn Montero to score when Lasko reached to make it 8-3.

Luke Mann would then crush his third home run of the season on a 2-1 pitch, bouncing it off the roof of the Back Porch to make it a one-run game at 8-7 and igniting a crowd of 2,717. Though the Ports would only manage three base runners the rest of the way, Brown did the same to Visalia and kept the raucous crowd engaged in another Ports nail biter.

Stockton would put runners on first and second with two outs in the eighth, but Visalia’s Hayden Durke would strike out Naylor to strand them.

UP NEXT: Game five is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The Ports will release updates on their social media platforms if their are schedule adjustments with rain expected early in the day tomorrow. Precipitation is currently expected to stop around 5:00 p.m.

The Ports will start Chen Zhuang (1-1, 1.42 ERA) who has been stellar to start the season, against RHP Denny Larando (0-0, 5.40).

It will be Star Wars Night at Banner Island Ballpark with our special theme package for $30! Includes ticket, lightsaber, pre-game photo shoot with the 501st Legion, and food voucher. Plus, enjoy a $10.50 ticket offer for parents/friends/family who want to be part of a little Jedi's experience.

Single game tickets, mini plans, and group outings are all on sale for the 2024 season. For more information, call the Ports front office at 209-644-1900 or email at [email protected].