MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com – STOCKTON, Calif. - Not all wins are pretty, but for the Stockton Ports, a win is a win. On Tuesday night at Banner Island Ballpark, the Ports took advantage of an error and two passed balls from the Bakersfield Blaze in the bottom of the seventh to score three runs en route to a 4-1 win. With the win, the Ports earn a split of the season series with the Blaze (13 games apiece), and reduce their playoff magic number to three. Any combination of Ports wins and Blaze losses equaling three will secure a place in the 2008 playoffs for Stockton.

The Blaze took advantage of a Ports error in the top of the first. Marcus Lemon reached on an error made by shortstop Josh Horton to start the game. Three batters later, Ian Gac hit a broken-bat single to center to give the Blaze a 1-0 lead.

The run was unearned, and the only one allowed by Ports starter Jason Glushon, who pitched masterfully in his third start of the year. Glushon was under control the entire night and allowed just two hits over his six innings of work. He pitched around two errors and didn’t walk a batter, and at night’s end he’d receive a no-decision. Glushon retired 15 of the last 17 batters he faced.span class="full-image-float-right">

The Ports evened the score in the bottom of the third. With one out, Archie Gilbert doubled to left and took third on a balk. Josh Horton followed with a sac-fly to left, tying the game at one.

That run was the only one allowed by Blaze starter Omar Poveda, who also had a very strong outing. Poveda tossed six innings and allowed three hits while walking four and striking out six.

Bakersfield turned to their bullpen in the seventh and brought in Josh Giles (1-2) to replace Poveda. With one out, Giles walked Corey Brown and then allowed a single to Frank Martinez. Jermaine Mitchell hit into a fielder’s choice, and Martinez was forced at second, putting runners at the corners with two down. Giles then hit Alex Valdez to load the bases. With Gilbert at the plate, Brown came in and scored from third on a passed ball by Blaze catcher Alberto Puello to give the Ports a 2-1 lead. Gilbert then hit a ground ball to second that was booted by Blaze second baseman Renny Osuna. Both Mitchell and Valdez came in to score, giving the Ports a 4-1 edge. All three runs allowed by Giles were unearned, but nevertheless he would end up taking the loss after his lone inning of work.

Stockton’s bullpen kept Glushon’s momentum going strong. Mike Benacka (3-2) tossed two scoreless frames, striking out three batters and picking up his third win. Sam Demel (SV, 17) notched his league-leading 17th save of the year by tossing a scoreless ninth.

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