Nuts Fail to Take Advantage of Walks in 4-3 Loss

San Jose, CA – Despite taking eight walks, the Modesto Nuts were one hit shy in their 4-3 loss to the San Jose Giants on Tuesday night at Excite Ballpark.

The Giants (16-9) struck first against Nuts (17-8) starter Josias De Los Santos (L, 2-2). After a one-out walk in the first inning, De Los Santos surrendered a two-run homer to Luis Matos.

Giants starter Kyle Harrison (W, 1-0) was strong in the first three innings and finally surrendered a single run in the fourth inning without allowing a hit in the frame. A walk and hit by pitch put two runners on before a groundball moved the runner over and a wild pitch moved the runner in. The Nuts then put the tying runners in scoring position in that inning after another walk but could not come up with the big hit.

Harrison worked five innings and stuck out six while walking three and giving up just two hits.

In the fourth inning, the Giants added two more runs. De Los Santos issued four walks in the inning before Brett Auerbach added to the Giants lead with a two-run double. De Los Santos worked 3.2 innings with five hits, four runs, five walks and only two strike outs.

In the sixth, the Nuts loaded the bases with three walks and two outs, but could not get the big hit until the seventh. With two outs in the seventh, after a pair of walks, Robert Perez Jr. and Matt Scheffler came up with a pair of RBI singles to make it a one-run game.

Clay Helvey (S, 3/3) worked the final two innings for the Giants without allowing a run.

The Nuts bullpen was strong again. Brayan Perez worked 2.1 innings without allowing a run or a hit. Kelvin Nunez tossed two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

Game two of the six-game series is on Wednesday night. The Nuts and Giants square off in San Jose at 6:30 pm.