Luck Favors the Nuts in 2-0 Loss

VISALIA, CA - Cole Stapler was impressive on the mound in his Rawhide debut, but a pair of seeing-eye singles by Bobby Honeyman and Luis Liberato brought home the only runs of the game as Modesto took the final game of the series, 2-0.

Stapler (L, 0-1) allowed just four hits and only one of them was well struck. He kept Nuts hitters guessing all night, striking out four over six solid innings and inducing 11 groundouts. He set down the side in order three times and retired the final four hitters he faced in a row.
But despite Stapler's strong start, the Rawhide couldn't figure out Modesto starter Ljay Newsome.
Newsome (W, 5-6) was activated off the Disabled List today and was impressive, tossing five shutout innings while holding the Rawhide to three hits and striking out four. It was his best start since he shut out the Rawhide over 8.2 innings on May 18.
Austin Hutchison and Seth Elledge (SV, 9) combined to throw four no-hit innings of relief to seal a series win for Modesto (38-54/8-14), their first in Visalia this year.
The Rawhide got three hits: doubles by Marcus Wilson and Luis Alejandro Basabe and a fifth-inning single from Jason Morozowski. The Rawhide went hitless in four at bats with runners in scoring position and hat just one hit, Basabe's bloop double, in 11 at bats with a runner on base.
Junior Garcia tossed a perfect seventh and Tommy Eveld dealt two scoreless frames out of the bullpen for Visalia (47-45/10-12).
Modesto has pitched three shutouts this year: all of them have come against the Rawhide.
Visalia hits the road for a four-game series in San Jose. Tomorrow, the Rawhide will send RHP Matt Peacock (3-0, 2.12) against RHP Logan Webb (1-2, 1.80). First pitch is at 7 PM and the live radio broadcast is available on rawhidebaseball.com.