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Parker Doubles Down the Ports

September 19, 2021

STOCKTON, Calif. – The Modesto Nuts defeated the Stockton Ports 6-1 in the penultimate game of the 2021 season behind 5 and 2/3 strong innings from Sam Carlson and a four-double night from shortstop James Parker. Second baseman Brett Rodriguez got the party started with some small ball in the

STOCKTON, Calif. – The Modesto Nuts defeated the Stockton Ports 6-1 in the penultimate game of the 2021 season behind 5 and 2/3 strong innings from Sam Carlson and a four-double night from shortstop James Parker.

Second baseman Brett Rodriguez got the party started with some small ball in the third inning with a bunt single on the first pitch he saw and then stole second for his 25th steal of the season. A Milkar Perez single was followed by a bloop hit into centerfield between four converging defenders by Trent Tinglestad to plate Rodriguez and advance Perez to third.

That was followed by Parker’s second double of the night that hit the chalk down the right field line and plated Perez and moved Tinglestad to third who scored on a wild pitch for a 3-0 Modesto lead.

The Ports threatened to answer in the bottom of the third inning when Zack Gelof drove a ball over the head of Tinglestad off the wall. But the Nuts right fielder played it well on a hop and started a 9-4-2 put out to gun down George Bell at the plate, as the runners had to hold up to see if the ball would be caught in right.

Stockton would get on the board in the fifth when ninth-place hitter Sahid Valenzuela was hit on the foot by a pitch and came around to score on a Jack Winkler double, but struck out Gelof looking to end the threat and preserve the 3-1 lead.

Parker would double again in the sixth and come around to score on a balk, and Spencer Packard would score on an RBI single from Ty Duvall to make it 5-1 Modesto. The Nuts would tack on one more run in the seventh with Milkar Perez was driven in after his lead-off double on Parker’s fourth double of the night to make it a 6-1 lead.

Carlson allowed four hits and just the one run while walking only two batters and striking out nine on 95 pitches. Max Roberts and Luis Curvelo each walked one batter, struck out three, and didn’t allow a run to preserve the five-run lead.

The Nuts improved to 63-51 on the season. Carlson will finish the year 6-4 with a 4.77 ERA.

UP NEXT: The Nuts will play the season finale at Banner Island Ballpark with righthander Grant Homan on the mound.