The Stockton Ports put up three first-inning runs in Visalia, led by 1B Lawrence Butler‘s leadoff homerun (2), and starter Jake Walkinshaw held the Rawhide to just one hit over six innings in a 7-2 Stockton win Friday night. Butler added another solo shot (3) in the ninth and went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and 3 runs scored.
Walkinshaw (W, 1-0) held the Rawhide hitless through five before giving up an infield single to Visalia SS Jose Curpa in the sixth. Moments later Curpa was erased on an inning-ending double play liner to Butler who stepped on the bag at 1st. Walkinshaw went 6IP with 1H, 4BB, 5Ks and threw 72 pitches, 44 for strikes.
Stockton’s 13-hit attack featured Butler’s three hits as wells as multi hit games from C Tyler Soderstrom (A’s #1 prospect) who went 3-for-4, RF Danny Bautista (2-for-4, 2RBI) and #13 prospect CF Brayan Buelvas (2-for-4). Soderstrom now has a six-game hitting streak over which he has gone 10-for-24.
Rawhide starter Brandon Pfaadt (L, 0-1) rebounded quickly after getting a mound visit four batters into the game. Butler led off with a homer, followed by a walk and a groundout and Bautista’s RBI double. Following a conference on the mound, a fielder’s choice grounder brought in the third run before Pfaadt struck out Buelvas and 2B Gavin Jones swinging.
Pfaadt was steady the rest of the way, only facing two batters over the minimum before coming out after five. His line was 5IP, 4H, 3ER, 2BB, 7K, 84 pitches, 55 strikes. After three starts, Pfaadt has gone 15 innings and allowed 10 hits and 7ER (4.20 ERA) with 3 BBs and 21 Ks. His WHIP of 0.87 would be third in the Low-A West if he had one more inning to qualify.
The Ports’ record now stands at 7-9 and they are five games out of first place in the North division, two games behind San Jose for third. Visalia drops to 2-14. Stockton has won three of the four games in the series.
SCOREBOARD
SAN JOSE – 0
FRESNO – 10
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LHP Breiling Eusebio (W, 2-0) threw six shutout innings and the Fresno bats jumped on San Jose for five first-inning runs. RHP Dugan Darnell (2IP) and RHP Stephen Jones (1IP) locked down the shutout and the Grizzlies got homers from DH Mateo Gil (1) and C Drew Romo (1). Fresno (11-5) moved to within 1 game of first-place Modesto in the North division while San Jose (9-7) remained in third place, 3 games out.
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – 2
LAKE ELSINORE – 0
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Four Quakes pitchers shut out the Storm on six hits as SS Jorbit Vivas and DH Johnny Deluca knocked in runs. Rancho (7-8) stayed tied with Inland Empire for second place in the South division. Lake Elsinore (8-8) saw its first-place lead shrink to 1/2 game.
MODESTO – 2
INLAND EMPIRE – 3
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The 66ers got six shutout innings from starter Ryan Smith (W, 2-0) and 2B Kyren Paris (Angels #6 prospect) doubled, tripled and knocked in two runs. Smith has now pitched 15 1/3 innings this season, allowing 3ER on 7H with 6BB and 29Ks. He lowered his WHIP to 0.85. C Keinner Pina extended his hitting streak to six games with a 3-for-4 night. Pina is 11 for his last 20 and is now batting .343/465/.400.
Modesto SS Noelvi Marte (Mariners #7 prospect) had another multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 and is now slashing .391/.466/.641.
Nuts RHP Taylor Dollard (L, 1-1) went 4 2/3 IP and allowed 3R on 6H and 3BB while striking out 11.
Modesto (12-4)remains in first place in the North division, 1 game ahead of second-place Fresno. Inland Empire (7-8) is tied with Rancho Cucamonga for second place, 1/2 game behind Lake Elsinore.
Thursday night’s pitching matchup in San Bernadino pitted two of the league’s top pitchers against one another and it didn’t disappoint. Fresno lefty Breiling Euesebio made his fifth start of the season and was opposed by Inland Empire’s Ryan Smith. Both delivered as Fresno’s 3-2 victory was decided late in the game after both had departed.
