STOCKTON, Calif.— The Stockton Ports (33-53) started out their four-game set against the Bakersfield Blaze (43-43) with a strong victory, holding the Blaze to just three hits and no runs in a 5-0 contest on Friday.  It was Stockton’s second shutout victory this season.  
 
Starter Tyson Ross had a solid outing, allowing just two hits in 5.2 innings and striking out a season-high eight batters.  Ross walked four in the contest.  Justin Friend allowed one hit in 2.1 innings and Jamie Richmond made his California League debut, tossing a hitless ninth frame.  Richmond was added to the team prior to Friday’s game.  
 
Catcher Yusuf Carter led the team with three hits, just a double shy of the cycle.  Carter and Grant Desme (who also homered in the contest) had two RBI apiece.  Steve Kleen finished the contest 0x4, ending his hitting streak at 12 games.   Kleen batted .543 (25x46) with six doubles, two home runs and eight RBI in that 12-game span.
 
Ross got off to a rough start, issuing two walks in the first inning, before settling down and retiring the side in the second frame.  He didn’t allow a hit until the third inning.  Friend, who entered the game in the sixth, retired the first six batters he faced in order before allowing a single.  He then struck out a batter, but the third strike went past Carter, and the runner reached safely.  Friend got the next batter to hit into a force out to end the eighth.  Richmond had a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out one, in his debut.
 
The Ports took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, as Carter slammed a solo home run to lead off the frame.  The Ports added another pair of runs in the third.  Right fielder Jermaine Mitchell got things started with a single, and shortstop Michael Richard followed with a singled.  Second baseman Jemile Weeks, who will be playing in the 2009 Futures Game at Busch Stadium on July 12, brought home Mitchell with a sacrifice fly.  Carter collected his second RBI of the game with a single to score Richard.
 
The Ports went up  5-0 in the sixth inning.  Carter tripled to lead off the frame, and scored when Desme slammed his sixth home run over the right field wall.  The Ports went quietly in the last two innings, with only one batter reaching base.

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