Ports Hold Off Nuts for Second Straight Win
MODESTO, Ca. – Kyle Virbitsky struck out eight over six quality innings and T.J. Schofield-Sam drove in three runs as the Ports held off the Nuts 5-3 on Thursday night at John Thurman Field in Modesto. The Ports have defeated the Nuts in back-to-back games after dropping the first game
MODESTO, Ca. – Kyle Virbitsky struck out eight over six quality innings and T.J. Schofield-Sam drove in three runs as the Ports held off the Nuts 5-3 on Thursday night at John Thurman Field in Modesto. The Ports have defeated the Nuts in back-to-back games after dropping the first game of the series 20-3.
For the third straight game this week, the Ports (28-50) took the early lead. With runners on second and third after a single by Max Muncy and a Shane McGuire double, T.J. Schofield-Sam came through with a two-out single to center field to score Muncy and McGuire and give the Ports a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, though, the Nuts (38-40) struck back with a two out hit of their own. With runners on first and second, Freuddy Batista drove a 1-1 pitch from Virbitsky off the wall in right field to score two runs and tie the game at two.
Schofield-Sam came through again with two outs to reclaim the lead for the Ports in the top of the third inning. With runners on the corners and two outs, the Ports’ first baseman singled through the hole on the right side to score Muncy from third base and put Stockton back on top 3-2.
The Ports extended their lead in the top of the seventh inning. Muncy and Danny Bautista both drew walks against Modesto reliever Juan Burgos to start the frame to put runners on first and second for McGuire, who singled to right center field to score Muncy from third base making it 4-2. After a fielders’ choice put runners on the corners again with one out, the Ports executed a double steal to make it 5-2 as Alexander Campos swiped second and McGuire scampered home from third on Nuts catcher Harry Ford’s throw to second base.
After two scoreless innings from Hunter Breault, the Nuts made things interesting in the ninth. With Ed Baram on to try to close it out for Stockton, the Nuts loaded the bases with nobody out on a single and back-to-back walks to bring the winning run to the plate. A wild pitch brought home Colin Davis from third, but Baram bounced back to strike out Brett Rodriguez for the first out. Calvin Coker then relieved Baram and with the tying run at second base and just one out, struck out Ben Ramirez and got Edwin Arroyo to pop out into foul territory to end the ballgame.
Virbitsky (5-4) got the win for the Ports, allowing just two runs on six hits over six innings while striking out eight. The right-hander is 3-1 over his last four starts with a 2.85 ERA. Nuts starter Sam Carlson (0-1) took the loss surrendering three runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings. Coker slammed the door picking up the final two outs for his first save of the season.
The Ports and Nuts continue their series at John Thurman Field with game four on Friday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm.