Modesto, CA. - A pair of home runs helped the Modesto Nuts snap a four-game skid with a 5-1 win against the Stockton Ports on Tuesday night at John Thurman Field. Evan White put the Nuts (47-68; 17-28) in front in the first inning. With one out, Luis Liberato singled
Modesto, CA. - A pair of home runs helped the Modesto Nuts snap a four-game skid with a 5-1 win against the Stockton Ports on Tuesday night at John Thurman Field.
Evan White put the Nuts (47-68; 17-28) in front in the first inning. With one out, Luis Liberato singled against Ports (65-50; 21-24) starter Xavier Altamirano (L, 3-4). As the third hitter in the first, White crushed a two-run homer over the left-field wall.
In the third inning, Kevin Santa and Luis Liberato recorded back-to-back singles. After a pair of fly outs induced by Altamirano, Joe Rizzo connected on a three-run homer over the right-field wall.
Altamirano worked six innings and allowed nine hits leading to five runs with no walks and three strikeouts.
That was all the offense Darren McCaughan (W, 6-8) and the Nuts' staff needed. McCaughan surrendered just a two-out RBI single in the third inning. The Nuts' righty stranded eight baserunners as the Ports went 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position. McCaughan stranded a pair of two-out baserunners in both the fourth and sixth innings. McCaughan came out with two outs and two on in the seventh inning. McCaughan worked 6 2/3 inning allowing just one run on seven hits.
Jack Anderson recorded the final out of the seventh inning, stranding two inherited runners before hanging a scoreless eighth with a pair of strikeouts.
Danny Garcia struck out the first two of the ninth inning before surrendering three straight soft singles to load the bases. The lefty induced a weak groundball back to the mound to end the game.
Rizzo recorded a double and three hits, falling a triple shy of the cycle. Santa, Liberato, and White each recorded two hits in the top three spots in the lineup.
The Nuts eye a series victory in the middle affair of a three-game set with the Ports on Wednesday night. First pitch is at 7:05 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.
