Stockton Ports Photo Gallery: 04/07/07

STOCKTON - The Stockton Ports took on the San Jose Giants on Saturday night and came 'oh, so close' to their first win, falling 8-7 in 13 innings. We have the details of the game in pictures inside.

Shortstop Cliff Pennington checks the sun before the start of Saturday's game against the San Jose Giants. Despite rain being in the forecast, the weather was clear and pleasant at Banner Island Ballpark on Saturday.

Mike Madsen got the starting nod for the Stockton Ports on Saturday. Madsen got off to a rough start in the game, allowing four runs in the first three innings. However, he threw scoreless innings in the fourth and fifth. Madsen struck out five of the last eight batters he faced in the game. He finished with six strikeouts and one walk in five innings in his season debut.

San Jose starter Paul Oseguera was sharp on Saturday. The left-hander allowed three hits and three runs in 5 innings. He didn't walk a batter and he struck out five.

Outfielder Chad Boyd waits for a pitch in the first inning of the game. Boyd was involved in a first inning controversy when he was called out on strikes on what should have been strike two according to the official scorer. Both Boyd and Ports manager Darren Bush argued the call to no avail. After a few more questionable calls during the game, Boyd's patience with the home plate umpire ran thin. He was ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the bottom of the 13th inning. He went 1-6 with four strikeouts (three looking) on the day.

First baseman Tom Everidge got the Ports on the board with a long solo homerun in the bottom of the second. It was the first homer of the season for Everidge and for the Ports. Everidge hit 20 homeruns in 2006.

Second baseman Justin Sellers tried to bunt for a hit in the bottom of the third inning. He was thrown out at first. Sellers finished the game 0-3.

Outfielder Nick Blasi hits a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to bring the Ports within a run. Blasi drove-in Tom Everidge from third after Everidge tripled.

Reliever Jason Ray took over for Madsen in the sixth inning. The hard-throwing right-hander threw two scoreless innings. He was wild at times, but when he was close to the plate, he dominated the Giants hitters. Ray struck out three in two innings and he allowed a walk and an infield hit.

San Jose reliever Gregorio Martinez took over in the sixth and promptly gave up three runs and the lead. The first run scored on a wild pitch and the last two scored on a homerun.

DH Javier Herrera scampers home on a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning. He reached on a walk to start the inning.

Blasi celebrates his two-run homer with his teammates. That homer in the sixth inning gave the Ports a 6-4 lead, their first lead of the game. Blasi drove-in three runs for the Ports on Saturday.

Catcher Raul Padron had the tough assignment of catching all 13 innings of Saturday night's game. Padron had a passed ball and he committed an error on a throw to third. He also took at least three hard foul tips off of his arms and legs.

Left-hander Brad Kilby made his season debut in the eighth inning for the Ports. He would be stuck with a tough-luck blown save, as his defense betrayed him. In the eighth, Kilby and Padron both committed errors, leading to an unearned run. In the top of the ninth, Kilby allowed a walk, but two errors (one by Everidge and one by Sellers) led to another unearned run. Kilby did strike out three during his two innings.

The Ports meet on the mound during the ninth inning after multiple defensive miscues put the Ports in peril of losing their lead. Stockton committed two errors in the bottom of the eighth and another two in the bottom of the ninth. In each inning, a single unearned run scored, forcing the extra innings.

San Jose shortstop Emmanuel Burriss had an active game. He went 2-7 with two runs scored. He scored the winning run after getting a base hit and then stealing two bases and scoring on a bloop single in the top of the 13th inning.

Luke Appert entered the game in the bottom of the 10th inning as a pinch-hitter and managed to have two at-bats. He singled in both at-bats.

Shortstop Cliff Pennington watches his game-tying sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning. The sac fly tied the score at 7-7.

Left-hander Brad Davis took over for Kilby in the 10th. He threw four innings, but was stuck with the loss. He allowed two runs on four hits, but generally threw well. He struck out three and didn't walk a batter. The winning run scored on a bloop single.

All photos by Chris Lockard/Scout.com