Perez, Judkins Carry Ports to Victory in Modesto

MODESTO, Ca. – Junior Perez went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and Grant Judkins allowed just one hit over 5.2 shutout innings and the Ports defeated the Modesto Nuts 4-2 on Saturday night at John Thurman Field.

After the first two hitters of the ballgame were retired, the Ports (29-51) mounted a two-out rally in the top of the first inning against Modesto starter Yeury Tatiz. Shane McGuire was hit by a 1-1 pitch and Danny Bautista reached on an infield single to put runners on first and second for Junior Perez, who roped a ground rule double down the left field to score McGuire from first base to put the Ports in front 1-0.

The Nuts (39-41) tied the score against Stockton starter James Gonzalez in the bottom of the first. Jonatan Clase walked to start the inning and a Harry Ford one-out single put runners on first and second. A double steal put runners on second and third with one out and Robert Perez, Jr. lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Clase from third, evening the score at one.

After the two teams traded single runs again in the third, the Ports on an RBI single by Junior Perez and the Nuts on an RBI single by Robert Perez, Jr., Stockton took the lead for good in the top of the fourth inning. CJ Rodriguez led off with a single up the middle and reached second base when Nick Brueser drew a walk. On a fake bunt Wilson Alvarez swung away and hit a ground ball to the vacated left side of the infield where Nuts’ shortstop Edwin Arroyo dove and deflected the ball into shallow left allowing pinch-runner Mariano Ricciardi to score from second base to give the Ports a 3-2 lead. After an error on Arroyo loaded the bases, Brueser scored from third base when Alexander Campos grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to extend the Stockton advantage to 4-2.

The two-run cushion was enough for Judkins, who breezed through a career-high 5.2 innings of relief allowing just one hit while striking out six. After coming in to start the fourth inning, Judkins did not allow a hit until Walking Cabrera reached on a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs in the ninth the right-hander gave way to Calvin Coker who got the final out to seal the victory.

Stockton right-hander Skylar Syznski (2-1) got the win, needing just one pitch to retire Nuts designated hitter Freuddy Batista to end the bottom of third inning in relief of Gonzalez. Tatiz (4-3) took the loss for Modesto allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits over five innings. Coker picked up his second save of the season in retiring Randy Bednar to end the ballgame.

Winners of three of the first five games in Modesto, the Ports will go for the series win on Sunday evening at John Thurman Field with first pitch at 6:05 pm.