Sardinha slugs Nuts past Oaks

Duke Sardinha hit two of Modesto's seven homers and drove in six runs Sunday as the Nuts rolled to a 15-5 victory over the Visalia Oaks at Recreation Park.

Sardinha belted a two-run shot in the seventh inning and launched a grand slam in the eighth to help the Nuts (23-27) win their second straight. The 25-year-old designated hitter has four homers and 12 RBIs in his last four games.

Justin Nelson belted a pair of solo shots, his 15th and 16th, and Jonathan Herrera and Corey Wimberly also went yard for Modesto. Christopher Frey knocked in three runs as part of the Nuts' 17-hit attack.

One night after teammate Franklin Morales took a no-hitter into the ninth, Modesto starter Samuel Deduno (5-7) allowed five runs on five hits over six frames, striking out seven and walking three. Adam Bright worked around a pair of walks in two scoreless frames and Jacob Postlewait blanked the first-place Oaks (29-20) in the ninth.

Visalia starter Jarod Matthews surrendered five runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking three. The loss went to Brandon Mann (4-9), who yielded two runs on five hits in 3 1/3 frames.

Relievers Jino Gonzalez and Antonio Perez combined to allow seven runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Shaun Cumberland smacked a two-run double and Josh Arhart ripped an RBI single in the Oaks' five-run third.