Early Doubles Not Enough in 6-3 Loss

Stockton, CA. - After scoring three first-inning runs against a big league rehabber, the Modesto Nuts' offense went quiet in a 6-3 loss to the Stockton Ports on Thursday night at Banner Island Ballpark.
Paul Blackburn was sent by the Athletics to make a rehab appearance for the Ports (33-21). After recording two quick outs to start the game, Kyle Lewis and Nick Zammarelli singled. Bryson Brigman followed with a RBI double. Joe Rizzo then whacked a two-run double. That was all the Nuts' (23-31) offense would get.
Brian Howard (W, 5-3), the originally scheduled starter, entered with two outs in the fourth. He would pitch through the end of the game working 5 1/3 innings with ten strikeouts and no walks while working around just two singles. He retired the final 13 he faced.
Colin Rodgers started for the Nuts and surrendered eight singles but just two runs in 3 2/3 innings with five strikeouts and one walk.
The main damage was done in the seventh inning against Jeffeson Medina (L, 3-1). Medina issued a pair of one-out walks before a Jonah Heim RBI single. Will Toffey drove in the go-ahead runs with a two-run double. Luis Barrera added a RBI single. Medina worked the lone inning and allowed four runs on three hits.
The Nuts head to San Jose to open a three-game series against the Giants on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. Coverage on ModestoNuts.com will start at 6:50 p.m. Listen live online on your phone, tablet or PC by clicking HERE.