Daniel Mengden allowed a first-inning run but then shut down the Modesto Nuts over the next six innings as the Stockton Ports won a tight contest by a score of 2-1 Tuesday night. The Stockton Ports took advantage of Modesto errors to score both of its runs.
Modesto got on the board first behind a Michael Benjamin single followed by two errant pick-off throws by Mengden that sent Benjamin to third. The run came in when Benjamin scored on a steal attempt by Ryan McMahon as the throw went through to second base.
Stockton broke through in the sixth inning with a pair of walks, a fly ball out that moved Jacob Nottingham to third, and an errant pick-off attempt by Modesto’s Devin Burke.
The deciding run came across in the eighth when a botched double-play attempt put Stockton runners at first and third and Nottingham followed with a sac fly.
Modesto loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth but failed to score when Correlle Prime grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the game.
Stockton has won three straight games while Modesto suffered its fifth straight defeat and is now one game behind Visalia in the North division 2nd half standings.
TUESDAY SCOREBOARD
BAKERSFIELD 11
LAKE ELSINORE 1
Brett Ash goes 6 IP for Blaze, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K. Kyle Petty goes 3-for-4 with a 2B, a HR (8) and 4 RBI.
VISALIA 6
SAN JOSE 4 (11 innings)
Rawhide get two in top of 11th on Kevin Cron‘s 23rd HR and a sac fly by Jose Queliz. Visalia takes one-game lead in the North division.
LANCASTER 8
INLAND EMPIRE 2
Chase McDonald belts his 22nd HR, Jethawks score seven runs in last three innings. Francis Martes (W, 2-1) goes 6 IP allowing 6 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB with 3 Ks.
RANCHO CUCAMONGA 13
HIGH DESERT 2
Quakes get homers from Tyler Ogle (16) and Jacob Scavuzzo (8) and pull within one game of first-place Mavericks. Scott Barlow (W, 5-2) goes 6 IP, allows 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB and 5 K’s.
STOCKTON 2
MODESTO 1
Daniel Mengden (W, 4-3) allows three hits, two walks and one earned run over seven innings. Jacob Nottingham’s sac fly in the top of the eighth is the difference as the Ports hand the Nuts their fifth-straight loss.
All four games have gone final with the race in the Cal League South tightening up while Visalia stretched its already big lead in the North. The Rawhide got a stand-out pitching performance from Josh Green with six strong innings as he protected a four-run first inning lead withoug much drama. Here are the finals from tonight’s action:
