Houston allows four hits in complete-game shutout
Houston (7-1) retired 13 of the 31 he faced via ground out, seven by way of fly out and struck out five. He retired the Rawhide (29-36) in consecutive order in the first, third, fifth and seventh innings. His nine inning complete-game shutout was the second in the California League this season and the first for a Modesto pitcher since Keith Weiser did it on June 18 in 2008.
Houston has allowed just one earned run over his last three starts. He is 2-0 with a 0.35 ERA in June and has not allowed a run in 24.2 consecutive innings.
The Nuts (30-35) scored their first run of the game in the second when Scott Robinson brought in Kent Matthes with a bases loaded sacrifice fly to right. Mike Zuanich scored their second run when he hit a solo home run to center in the fifth.
The Nuts started the second with consecutive singles from Matthes and Dallas Tarleton. Carlos Martinez was then walked by Eitel to load the bases and Robinson delivered his sac fly to right.
Zuanich's home run was his 12th of the season and his seventh hit at John Thurman Field in Modesto. Visalia starter Derek Eitel allowed the lead off blast in the fifth and the one run in the second.
Eitel (2-5) allowed just two runs, but gave up 10 hits and three walks in the loss. He pitched six full innings and struck out four. Eitel worked out of a bases loaded jam in the third by getting Nolan Arenado to hit into a double play and by getting Matthes on an inning ending ground out. He stranded two in the first, one in the second, two in the third, and two in the fourth.
Adam Worthington worked the eighth and ninth innings for Visalia. He allowed just one hit and struck out two over the final two scoreless innings.
Modesto was 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base in the victory. The Rawhide had just two at bats with runners in scoring position and left four on.