Nuts Swept with 10-2 Loss to Blaze

The Modesto Nuts offense was stifled by Ben Lively and the Bakersfield Blaze on Sunday afternoon at Sam Lynn Ballpark in a 10-2 loss.

The Nuts (0-4) could manage just two hits in the loss, cinching the four-game series sweep at the hands of the Blaze (4-0). Ben Lively (W, 1-0) dominated the Nuts over six innings. The righty retired the first 14 batters he faced before David Kandilas smashed a solo home run to break up the perfect game, no-hit and shutout bid. Lively would strike out the side in the sixth, his final inning of work. The righty gave up just the one hit while walking none and never working out of the stretch.

In the first inning, the Blaze jumped on the board early with four hits to plate three runs before they plated two more in the third inning. They broke it open with some extra-base power in the fifth inning to end Jayson Aquino's (L, 0-1) day. The lefty surrendered six hits, allowed seven runs, struck out three, walked a trio of batters and hit two in his first start of the year.

Marquez Smith smashed a two-run double in the four-run fifth as part of a four-RBI day. John Tolisano followed him with a two-run double as well for his first two-RBI of the season.

Next up for the Nuts is a three-game series at Visalia against the Rawhide on Monday afternoon. First pitch is at 1:00 p.m. The Coverage on ModestoNuts.com will begin at 12:55 p.m. Righty Matt Flemer (0-0, -.--) will make his first start of the year. Visalia sends righty Jesse Darrah (0-0, -.--) to the mound.