The Stockton Ports put up four runs in the second inning and held on for a 6-5 win in Fresno on Thursday night. The visitors used three singles and a Pedro Pineda three-run shot to open up an early 4-0 lead and went on to win for the seventh time in their last 11 games.
The Grizzlies came back with two runs in the third inning on a fielder’s choice and a Braiden Ward steal of home on ball four to the batter where the throw needlessly went to second base as Warming Bernabel was “stealing” second base, to make it 4-2, Stockton.
The Ports took a 6-3 lead to the bottom of the ninth and Fresno struck for two runs but stranded the tying run on third base. Ward doubled in a run to make it 6-4 with runners on second and third and one out. A groundout brought in another run to make it 6-5 with Ward on third.
Stockton reliever Hunter Breault then induced a ground ball back to the box which ultimately got the final out.
Luke Anderson (W, 2-2) went 5 1/3 innings with 2 runs allowed, but 0 ER, on one hit and six walks, striking out three. Breault got the shaky save for his eventful ninth inning.
Stockton’s Junior Perez was 2-3 with a triple. T.J. Schofield-Sam was 2-4 with a double.
Fresno won the first two games and Stockton now looks to even the series on Friday night at 6:50.
SCOREBOARD
VISALIA – 4
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – 2
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INLAND EMPIRE – 1
LAKE ELSINORE – 9
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SAN JOSE – 3
MODESTO – 9
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