Ports Buried By Nuts In Opener 13-2

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Modesto Nuts matched a season-high with 17 hits and took advantage of a season-high six Stockton Ports errors on Saturday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Modesto scored four runs in the first, one of three four-run innings on the night, on its way to a 13-2 win over Stockton to open a four-game series before a crowd of 5,215 at Banner Island Ballpark.

Ports starter Joey Wagman (3-6) gave up a one-out single to Forrest Wall in the first followed by an RBI double to Wes Rogers that gave Modesto the first run of the ballgame. Josh Fuentes came up next and reached on a fielding error by shortstop Richie Martin that allowed Rogers to score. Drew Weeks followed with a two-run homer to left to give the Nuts a 4-0 lead.

The four first inning runs were the only runs allowed by Wagman, who suffered the loss in a spot-start after going three innings and allowing eight hits while striking out four.

Modesto doubled its lead in the fourth facing Koby Gauna. With one on and two out, Fuentes hit an RBI double to right-center that scored Omar Carrizales and made it 5-0. Weeks followed and hit a tapper back towards the mound that Gauna fielded and made an errant throw to first, allowing Fuentes to score. Dom Nunez followed with a two-run homer to right that ran the Nuts lead to 8-0.

Gauna allowed four runs (one earned) on three hits while striking out two.

Nuts starter Parker French (6-6) retired 10 of the first 11 batters he faced before surrendering a one-out homer to B.J. Boyd in the fourth that made it 8-1. It was the only run allowed by French, who also escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the fifth. French went 6.2 innings and picked up the win, allowing five hits while walking two and striking out five.

Victor Veliz took over in the sixth and kept Modesto out of the run column in his first inning of work. With one on and one out in the seventh, Veliz gave up an infield single to Carrizales on a ball that John Nogowski fielded and first and made an errant throw on the cover attempt at the bag by Veliz, allowing Wilson Soriano to score. After Forrest Wall walked, Veliz was lifted for Cody Stull. Stull gave up a single to Rogers to open his outing. Fuentes followed and singled to left on which Carrizales scored. The ball was booted in right field by James Harris, allowing another run to cross the plate. Weeks followed with an RBI groundout to shortstop to make it a 12-1 Nuts lead.

Veliz allowed three runs on three hits in an inning-and-a-athird of relief. Stull allowed an unearned run in an inning-and-two-thirds.

Stockton's second run came in the bottom of the eighth off Yoely Bello. Harris led off with a double and scored two batters later on an RBI single by Boyd to make it a 12-2 contest. It was the only run allowed by Bello in an inning-and-a-third of relief.

Melvin Mercedes was brought in to pitch the ninth for Stockton as he made his second appearance of the season on the mound. Mercedes allowed a leadoff home run to Carrizales, but then went on to retire the next three batters in a row, including a strikeout of Rogers.

Tyler Matzek pitched the ninth for Modesto and pitched around a walk and hit batter to keep Stockton out of the run column.

With his leadoff double in the eighth, Harris extended his home hit streak to 18 games. He's now reached base in 27 consecutive home games.

The Ports and Nuts play the second game of their four-game set on Sunday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Brett Graves (4-7, 5.09 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Modesto left-hander Helmis Rodriguez (1-6, 3.86 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. PDT.