Carrizales' Three Hits Support Almonte in 3-0 Win

Modesto, CA. - Timely hits backed Yency Almonte's magic show in the Modesto Nuts 3-0 win over the Bakersfield Blaze on Thursday night at John Thurman Field.

Almonte (W, 6-8) had to work around a pair of bases-loaded jams in his start for the Nuts (11-16; 37-60). The Blaze (18-9; 55-42) loaded the bases with no outs in the third on a walk and a pair of singles. Almonte got a force out at the plate before striking out back-to-back hitters to dodge a bullet. The Blaze loaded the bases again in the fourth with two outs thanks to a single, a walk and a bean ball, but Almonte got Daniel Torres to pop out to end the threat.

Almonte worked six shutout innings with eight strikeouts. He walked three and allowed just three hits.

Osmer Morales (L, 2-3) worked a complete game but the Nuts got to him late. Omar Carrizales went 3-for-4 and picked up the first hit of the game against Morales to start the fourth. After Carrizales recorded his second single, Forrest Wall drove him in with a two-out RBI single in the sixth. The Nuts tacked on in the eighth. Shane Hoelscher led the frame off with a single. Morales got the next two outs before Omar Carrizales drilled a RBI triple into left-center field. Wall recorded his second RBI to pad the lead.

Morales went eight innings and K'ed four with no walks and eight hits allowed.

Luis Nielba (S, 5/5) worked around a leadoff single to give the Nuts a win in the opener of a four-game series.

Game two of the four-game set will start at 7:05 p.m. on Friday night. Coverage on ModestoNuts.com will start at 7:00 p.m. Listen live online by clicking here.