MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com -STOCKTON, Calif.—The Stockton Ports suffered their first sweep since their series at Modesto from April 13-15, as they dropped Game Four against High Desert, 7-5, Sunday afternoon at Banner Island Ballpark. The Ports have now lost five consecutive games, their longest losing streak since a four-game losing streak from May 3-6.

 

Right-handed pitcher Craig Italiano worked 5.0 innings for the Ports (21-36), and allowed five runs on eight hits, with five strikeouts. Leonardo Espinal picked up the loss for the Ports, while reliever Phillippe Aumont won his first game for the Mavericks (38-19). The Ports tied up the game at five in the bottom of the eighth, but Espinal allowed High Desert to score two runs, including one on a wild pitch, in the ninth inning. The Ports were unable to come from behind to avoid the sweep in their half of the ninth.

 

High Desert was the first to score, plating a run in the first inning. Center fielder Jamie McOwen led off the game with a single, to extend his hitting streak to 20 games. He came home to score on a single by top League hitter, Joe Dunigan.

 

The Mavericks added two more runs in both the third and fourth innings, to pull ahead 5-0. In the third frame, shortstop Jeff Dominguez doubled to get things rolling for High Desert. McOwen followed with an RBI single to bring him home. McOwen was caught stealing while second baseman Edilio Colina was at bat, and Colina grounded out. With two out, first baseman Ian Bladergroen sent a solo home run sailing to the Metro PCS home run hill in right field. Dunigan grounded out to end the inning.

 

In the fourth, right fielder Carlos Peguero singled and scored on a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch while catcher Travis Scott was batting. Scott walked, and Peguero scored on a single by left fielder Kuo Hui Lo. Both runners advanced on a passed ball during Dominguez’s at bat. Dominguez walked to load the bases, and Scott came around to score on a sacrifice fly by McOwen. Colina flew out to end the inning.

 

The Ports loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth, on a single and two walks, but all the runners were left stranded. In total, the Ports went 0x10 with runners in scoring position in the contest, and left 11 runners on base.

 

Stockton scored their first two runs in the fifth frame. Jermaine Mitchell led off the inning and reached on an error by Bladergroen. He came around to score as Jemile Weeks doubled to left field. Weeks has now hit safely in all 10 games that he has started in with the Ports. Left fielder Todd Johnson reached base on Bladergroen’s second error of the game. Matt Smith, who came in to the game in the top of the fifth inning for catcher Yusuf Carter, struck out to leave the ports with two on and one out. First baseman Raul Padron hit a sacrifice fly to score Weeks, and Johnson tried to advance to second on the play. He was thrown out at second to end the inning in a 7-2-6 play.

 

The Ports crept closer to the Mavericks by adding two more runs in the sixth inning. Thomas snapped an 0x21 hitless streak with a two-run home run over the mini monster wall in left field.

 

The Ports tied up the game in the bottom of the eighth. Michael Richard led off the inning and was hit by a pitch by Natividad Dilone. He was put out at second base as Thomas reached on a fielder’s choice. Weeks singled with two out to put runners on the corners for Stockton. Johnson then struck out swinging, but Scott passed the ball. Johnson took off for first and reached safely, and Thomas scored the tying run.

 

In the top of the ninth, Baldergroen led off the Mavericks with a double to center field, and Gavin Dickey entered the game as a pinch runner. Dickey was followed on base by Dunigan, who was intentionally walked by Espinal. Liddi struck out, and Peguero reached base on a fielder’s choice. With two out and runners on the corners, Scott stepped up to the plate. While Scott was batting, Espinal threw a wild pitch, and Dickey came around to score the sixth High Desert run. Scott was intentionally walked, and Lo collected his second hit of the game to score Peguero. Dominguez grounded out to end the inning.

 

The Ports went down in order in the bottom of the ninth to finish the game.

 

The Ports will enjoy an off day on Monday, before heading out for a six-game road trip, with three games apiece at Modesto and Visalia. The Ports will play at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday, with LHP Ben Hornbeck (1-2, 4.30) on the mound against RHP Bruce Billings (4-5, 4.33).

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