STOCKTON, Calif.— For the fourth time this season, the San Jose Giants (49-29) have shutout the Stockton Ports (28-50).  The Ports struck out 15 times in the 10-0 loss to the Giants Thursday night at Banner Island Ballpark.
 
Thursday’s shutout loss was the fifth for the Ports this season.  They were shutout three consecutive times by the Giants in the opening series of the 2009 season at San Jose.
 
The Ports totaled just six hits in the game and left six runners stranded in the contest.  Shortstop Frank Martinez led the offense with a 2x3 performance.  Three Stockton batters struck out three times in the contest.  Right-handed pitcher Scott Mitchinson picked up the loss, allowing five runs (two earned) on four hits in 4.1 innings.  Mitchinson had two consecutive three-up, three-down innings, and had a fairly solid outing.  Derrick Gordon was the only Stockton pitcher to hold the Giants scoreless, allowing just two hits in 2.2 innings.  Leonardo Espinal allowed three runs (two scoring on wild pitches) in 0.2 innings.  Lance Sewell allowed a two-run home run and struck out the side in the ninth.
 
The Giants took a 5-0 lead in the second inning and did not look back.  Angel Villalona was the first batter to reach base, gaining first after being hit by a pitch.  He was followed on base by third baseman Conor Gillaspie, who singled.  Mitchinson struck out catcher Aaron Lowenstein for the second out of the frame.   Second baseman Nick Noonan then smacked a triple, to score two runs and put San Jose up, 2-0.  The ball got caught in the base of the padding underneath the Food 4 Less in left-center field sign, allowing Noonan to gain third safely.  
 
Center fielder Tyler Graham then reached first and second safely on an error on third baseman Matt Smith.  The ball got away from Smith and rolled in to left-center field, allowing Noonan to score.  With two out and a runner on, shortstop Brian Bocock doubled to center field.  Left fielder Thomas Neal then smacked an RBI single to bring home Bocock for the fifth run of the inning.  Buster Posey hit into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.  
 
The Ports worked to respond in the bottom of the second, loading the bases with just one out.  But Giants starter Scott Barnes retired the next two batters to get out of the jam.  
 
The Ports held the Giants scoreless from the third through the seventh frames, and the Giants returned the favor in that span.  The Ports collected two hits in both the fifth and sixth innings, but grounded into double plays in both frames to halt the offense.  
 
In the eighth inning, the Ports replaced Gordon with Espinal on the mound.  Espinal hit Villalona to start the inning.  Gillaspie grounded out to first baseman Steve Kleen for the first out of the frame, and Villalona advanced to second on the play.  Lowenstein then stepped up to the plate, and during his at-bat, Espinal threw a wild pitch to allow Villalona to advance to third.  Villalona scored on an RBI single by Lowenstein.  Noonan then doubled through the hole at shortstop to put two runners in scoring position for San Jose.   
 
Espinal walked Graham to load the bases, but next got Bocock to strike out swinging.  With Neal at the plate, Espinal threw a wild pitch, which allowed Lowenstein to score.  Another wild pitch allowed Noonan to score.  Espinal came out of the game while Neal had a 2-2 count with a back injury.  He was replaced on the hill by Sewell, who ended the inning on one pitch, as Neal popped out to second baseman Christian Vitters.    
 
But the Giants had a 8-0 lead going into the bottom half of the frame.  Martinez led off the inning with a single, but it was the last hit and baserunner the Ports would muster, as reliever T.J. Brewer retired the next six straight batters he faced.
 
The Giants collected their final two runs of the ninth off a two-run home run by right fielder Roger Kieschnick in the ninth.  Sewell struck out the side to inning.
 
The Ports and the Giants face off for the final game of the series at 7:05 p.m. on Friday at Banner Island Ballpark.  LHP Ben Hornbeck (2-3, 4.18) will start the game for the Ports, while the Giants will have RHP Oliver Odle (4-6, 5.47) take the hill.  
 
July 3 is the Ports’ Independence Day Celebration, and will feature a post-game Fireworks Extravaganza, sponsored by Comcast.  The Ports players will also be sporting Stars & Stripes jerseys, which will be auctioned off to fans during the game.  Auction winners can have their jerseys autographed by their player following the game.

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