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Nuts Level Series, Beat Ports 4-1

July 14, 2018

MODESTO, Calif. - The Stockton Ports suffered just their fourth loss in 16 meetings with the Modesto Nuts on Saturday night at John Thurman Field. Modesto's pitching staff retired its final 13 batters of the night as the Nuts earned a 4-1 win over Stockton to even their four-game series

MODESTO, Calif. - The Stockton Ports suffered just their fourth loss in 16 meetings with the Modesto Nuts on Saturday night at John Thurman Field. Modesto's pitching staff retired its final 13 batters of the night as the Nuts earned a 4-1 win over Stockton to even their four-game series at a game apiece.
After squandering an opportunity with runners at the corners and one out in the second inning, Stockton's offense produced the game's first run in the top of the third. After Santiago Chávez was hit by a pitch to open the inning, Brallan Perez reached on an error committed by Nuts catcher Nick Thurman to put two aboard. Luis Barrera came to the plate and delivered an RBI single to left to give Stockton a 1-0 lead.
Stockton's lone run of the game was unearned for Nuts starter Nick Wells (3-2), who would go on to escape a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the fifth as he got Luke Persico to hit into an inning-ending double-play, the start of 13 straight batters set down to end the game. Wells would earn the win, going six innings and allowing five hits while walking three and striking out three.
Ports starter Xavier Altamirano (3-1) would also allow an unearned run in the third. After a single and an error occurred back-to-back with one out, Evan White stepped to the plate and delivered an RBI double to left to score Bobby Honeyman and tie the game at 1-1.
Altamirano would surrender a leadoff triple to Honeyman to open the fifth and Honeyman went on to score on an ensuing groundout by Bryson Brigman that gave Modesto the lead for good at 2-1.
Altamirano worked into the seventh inning and surrendered a leadoff home run to Gareth Morgan that stretched the Nuts' lead. After Altamirano recorded back-to-back outs, he surrendered a two-out single to Brigman that chased him from the contest. Ty Damron took over and gave up a walk followed by a two-out single to White that drove in Brigman and ballooned the Modesto lead to 4-1.
Altamirano would suffer his first California League loss, going 6.2 innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits while striking out two.
Jack Anderson took over for Modesto in the seventh and tossed two perfect innings, followed by Wyatt Mills (SV, 9) who notched his ninth save by tossing a perfect ninth.
The Ports and Nuts play the third game of their four-game set on Sunday night at John Thurman Field. Left-hander Evan Manarino (2-2, 4.70 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by Modesto right-hander Erik Espinal (0-0, 0.00 ERA) who makes his California League debut. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. PDT.