Ports Climb Out of Early Hole to Top Rawhide, Take Series

VISALIA, Ca. – Junior Perez hit a leadoff home run in the top of the seventh inning and added an RBI double in the ninth as the Ports came from behind to beat the Rawhide 5-2 in the series finale on Sunday at Valley Strong Ballpark in Visalia.

The Ports’ late offensive surge clinched their first road series win of 2022, taking four out of six this week from the Rawhide.

For the second game in a row the Rawhide (18-45) took an early lead. SP Chen led off the bottom of the first with a double down the right field line off Grant Judkins and after moving to third base on a groundout, scored on a double down the left field line by Wilderd Patiño to give Visalia a 1-0 lead. Patiño then stole third base and scored when Deyvison De Los Santos lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, increasing the Rawhide lead to 2-0.

After leaving five runners on through the first three innings, the Ports (25-38) broke through in the top of the fourth inning. With the bases loaded and two outs after two walks and a single, Max Muncy reached on an infield single to score Nick Brueser from third base to cut the Rawhide lead in half at 2-1.

The Ports tied the game with two outs in the top of the fifth with good baserunning by Shane McGuire. With two outs and Danny Bautista at second and McGuire at third, the first pitch to Brueser squirted out of the glove of Rawhide catcher Sergio Gutierrez and rolled away. With a good jump, McGuire scored from third base just ahead of the throw from Gutierrez to the pitcher Eric Mendez covering the plate to tie the game at two.

With Judkins, Clark Cota and Jack Owen holding the Rawhide offense down, Perez gave the Ports a 3-2 lead with his solo shot leading off the seventh.

The Ports then got some insurance in the top of the ninth inning. Kevin Richards doubled to left center with one out in the ninth inning off Visalia reliever Jhosmer Alvarez and scored on Perez’s double down the left field line to make it 4-2. McGuire followed with a single up the middle to score Perez, increasing the Ports’ advantage to 5-2.

Robin Vazquez got the final three outs for the Ports, pitching around a hit by pitch and a walk to keep the Rawhide off the board and end the ballgame.

Owen (3-4) got the win for Stockton allowing just one hit over three shutout innings with two strikeouts. Alvarez (0-3) took the loss for the Rawhide giving up three runs on five hits in 2.2 innings. The save for Vazquez was his first of the season.\

After an off-day on Monday, the Ports return to Banner Island Ballpark to open a 12-game homestand with a six-game series against the San Jose Giants on Tuesday night at 7:05 pm. Tickets are available at stocktonports.com or by calling (209) 644-1900.