Stockton’s bats broke out for the second night in a row, led by Denzel Clarke‘s two home runs, in a 14-10 win over Modesto at Banner Island Ballpark Friday night. Clarke, the Oakland A’s #17 prospect, led off the bottom of the first with a solo shot and added a three-run bomb in the seventh. Stockton got three more long balls in outlasting the Nuts to even the series at two games apiece.
A three-run first inning and a six-run fourth put Stockton up 9-2 with rehabbing big-leaguer James Kaprielian in control but the Nuts got to Stockton’s bullpen and made it a slugfest.
Kaprielian went five innings and threw 75 pitches (47 strikes), striking out six with no walks. Both runs allowed were solo homers by Robert Perez, who added a third after Kaprielian left the game.
James Kaprielian's night is done here in Stockton: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 6 K
Fastball sat 92-95, topped at 96 a few times throughout the night. 52 pitches, 41 strikes
— Alex Jensen (@ajensen86) April 16, 2022
Kevin Richards went 3-for-4 with his first HR for Stockton. Max Muncy blasted his third home run of the season, a grand slam, in a six-run fourth inning. CJ Rodriguez hit his first of the season in a 4-run seventh inning.
After losing their first five games, the Ports have won two straight and scored more runs in the two wins (25) than they did in the five losses (21). Clarke went 7-for-10 with three homers in the two victories.
Perez hit his solo shots in the second and fourth innings and added a two-run blast in the eighth to bring his season total to four, leading the California League.
Not 1
Not 2
But three home runs by Robert Perez Jr. tonight!The first three-homer game since Noelvi Marte did it last year, also in Stockton.
Nuts down 14-8 | Bot 8https://t.co/pAahtNktnw
— Modesto Nuts (@ModestoNuts) April 16, 2022
Stockton (2-5) will try to keep it rolling on Saturday and catch Modesto (3-4) in the standings with a 7:05PM game.
SCOREBOARD
INLAND EMPIRE – 9
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – 4
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VISALIA – 4
LAKE ELSINORE – 15
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FRESNO – 3
SAN JOSE – 0
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