WILLMAR, Minn. – Polo Portela (Sac City) was phenomenal once again tonight, helping the Stingers to a 2-1 victory in his last outing of the summer.

He returns home to Sacramento tomorrow with a final ERA of 1.24. Tonight, he got his sixth victory of the season, pitching into the eighth inning and giving up only one run.

The 2017 All-Star, who faced the minimum three batters in his one inning of work in the All-Star Game, allowed only four hits and struck out seven in his outing tonight.

He threw 62 of his 101 pitches for stikes and recorded three 1-2-3 innings against the Bucks.

He finishes the year with a 0.89 WHIP and a league-leading .160 opposing batting average. 

At the plate, the Stingers plated their two runs in the third inning on Waterloo's starter, Jared Crescentini. With one out in the inning, Marcus Still (New Mexico State) walked and was one of four straight batters to get on base for Willmar. 

He was brought in by Josh Bissonette (Baylor), who finished 2-for-4. 

Luke Becker (Kentucky), who also finished 2-for-4 was then brought in by Nolan Bumstead (CS-Northridge) who hit a sac fly into left field to put the Stingers ahead 2-0.

Waterloo did not respond against Portela and the Stingers bullpen until the eighth inning. Calvin Coker (Auburn) came in for the five-out save in the eighth and allowed one inherited runner to score. 

He then shut down the Bucks, clinching the 2-1 victory and earning his third save of the season.

Today's Center for Diagnostic Imaging player of the game was Polo Portela. CDI is your local medical imaging provider. It’s your choice where you go for medical imaging, for MRI, CT, mammograms and pain injections, choose CDI. Visit online at myCDI.com/CentralMN.

The Stingers move to 8-5 on the second half and 26-23 overall. Game two will be tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available now at WillmarStingers.com or by calling 320-222-2010. Nick Lackney (Minnesota) is expected to start for Willmar. 

The 2017 Stingers season is presented by Marcus Construction. For more coverage of the Stingers, visit the West Central Tribune online at www.wctrib.com.