Nuts Fail to Hold Lead in 7-3 Defeat

Fresno, CA – Despite taking a lead in the third inning, the Modesto Nuts fell 7-3 against the Fresno Grizzlies on Sunday night at Chuckchansi Park.

Alberto Rodriguez sparked a Nuts’ (56-47) rally in the third inning when he launched a towering solo home run to right. Rodriguez finished the game with three hits and a walk. An RBI fielder’s choice and an error helped two more runs cross to give the Nuts a two-run lead.

That lead would evaporate in one swing of the bat. In the fourth inning, Jimmy Kingsbury (L, 1-1) hit the first batter he faced before allowing a single. Robby Martin put the Grizzlies (66-36) ahead for good when he ripped a three-run homer over the rightfield wall. Kingsbury worked four innings allowing just three hits but four runs on three walks with a career-high seven strikeouts.

Anderson Pilar (W, 6-0) did some heavy lifting out of the Grizzlies’ bullpen working 3.2 innings without allowing a run on two hits with five strikeouts.

The Nuts return home after a 3-3 road trip to open their final homestand of the year on Tuesday night against the Inland Empire 66ers at 7:05 pm.