Nuts Surge Offensively To Defeat Giants, 11-5

MODESTO - The Modesto Nuts scored in five straight innings and collected 15 hits for the game in an 11-5 victory over the San Jose Giants on Sunday afternoon at John Thurman Field. After the Giants took a 4-2 lead after 2 1/2 innings, Modesto scored the next nine runs in the contest before cruising to the win. 

Brian Ragira (3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) and Blake Miller (3-for-4, 2B, RBI) had three hits apiece to lead San Jose offensively in defeat. Mitch Delfino (2-for-5, RBI) and Chuckie Jones (2-for-5, SB) also finished with multi-hit games at the plate.

The Giants started strong producing four straight hits with one out in the top of the third to take the lead. With the Nuts ahead 2-1, Jones started the third-inning rally with a single. After Jones stole second, Delfino ripped an RBI single into left to tie the score. Miller followed with a double to deep left field plating Delfino to give San Jose the lead. Ragira then doubled off the wall in left as Miller came home to make it 4-2.

Modesto though responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead for good. Facing Giants starter Joe Biagini, David Kandilas was hit by a pitch to start the frame before Chris O'Dowd belted an RBI double to the fence in deep left center. Rosell Herrera followed with a groundout to second advancing O'Dowd to third base and then Pat Valaika singled into shallow center to bring home the tying run. The rally continued as Biagini walked the next hitter, Sean Dwyer, before an RBI double from Matt Wessinger made it 5-4 Nuts.

Modesto kept the pressure on with another run in the bottom of the fourth against Biagini as Juan Ciriaco singled to leadoff, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Valaika's two-out single.

With San Jose trailing 6-4, Jeff Soptic entered the game to begin the bottom of the fifth and struggled as he retired just two out of the eight batters he faced. After a leadoff walk to Dwyer, Soptic (2/3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO) set down Wessinger on a pop out and then struck out Jordan Ribera. Kyle Von Tungeln then walked to extend the inning before Ciriaco delivered an RBI single to make it 7-4. Kandilas was up next and he lined a single into left center plating two more for a 9-4 Nuts advantage.

Modesto added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth against Mason McVay (1 1/3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO) as Von Tungeln came though with a two-out RBI double before Ciriaco produced an RBI single for his fourth hit of the game and an 11-4 lead.

The Giants got one run back in the top of the eighth, but still fell considerably short. After back-to-back singles from Miller and Ragira and a double play hit into by Elliott Blair, a Nuts fielding error at second on a grounder hit by Ben Turner allowed Miller to score. San Jose though managed only three hits over final six innings after seven hits in the first three frames.

Modesto starter Matt Flemer (6-5) picked-up the win after tossing five innings with four runs (all earned) and seven hits allowed. He walked one and struck out four. Flemer retired the last seven batters he faced.

Biagini (3-4) suffered the loss after surrendering a season-high tying six runs (all earned) on eight hits over four innings. Biagini walked two and struck out five.

Notes: The Nuts have won two out of the first three in the series … The Giants lost for just the second time in their last eight games … Modesto out-hit San Jose 15-10 … The Nuts were 9-for-14 (.643) with runners in scoring position … Miller recorded his team-leading 50th RBI … Biagini entered the game eighth in the California League with a 3.30 ERA … Modesto was 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts … McVay's scoreless inning streak was snapped at 20 … He allowed his first run since May 5 … Blair's (0-for-3, BB) hitting streak ended at eight games … The Giants fell to 32-33 with five games remaining in the first half.

On Deck: The Giants will look for a split of their four-game series against the Modesto Nuts tomorrow night. First pitch at John Thurman Field is scheduled for 7:05 PM. Chris Stratton (3-6, 4.80 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Modesto is expected to counter with Ryan Carpenter (1-1, 2.01 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 6:35 PM.