Nuts Pull Away Late as Ports Drop Home Opener

STOCKTON, Calif. — The Modesto Nuts pulled away late to take the 2024 season opener at
Banner Island Ballpark in a 7-2 over the Stockton Ports.
It was a good old fashioned pitcher’s duel for the first six innings on Friday night, as Ports
starter Jackson Finley allowed just a first-inning solo home run for the only hit he would give up
on the evening. The former two-way star at Georgia Tech went four innings in issued just two
walks with six strikeouts.
The Ports would tie the game in the fourth when Luke Mann singled to lead off the inning and
advanced to second on a throwing error by the shortstop. That was followed by a Nate Nankil
opposite-field single down the right field line and the game was tied up 1-1.
It would stay that way through six innings, before Modesto broke through in the top of the
seventh. Aidan Smith got the Nuts second hit of the game and stole second base. Luis Suisbel
singled up the middle just out of the reach of second baseman Bjay Cooke to put Modesto
ahead 2-1.
Charlie Pagliarini doubled off the base of the left-field wall and Suisbel scored all the way from
first for a 3-1 Nuts lead. Jonny Farmelo singled on a liner to left to complete the rally and score
Pagliarini and the Nuts had a 4-1 lead going into the seventh-inning stretch.
Stockton answered with a run in the bottom of the inning after catcher Cole Conn got his third
hit of the game to score Ryan Lasko who led off the inning with a double to cut it to a 4-2
deficit. But the Nuts got out of the jam when they got Myles Naylor to pop up to first and Mann
to strike out to end the Ports’ threat.
The Nuts would tack on three more runs in the ninth on a two-run shot by Pagliarini to the Back
Porch in right and a Lazaro Montes single drove in a run for the 7-2 win for Modesto. Yunior Tur
pitched a 1-2-3 sixth before running into trouble in the Nuts’ three-run seventh to take the loss.
Game two of the three game set is set for 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, and it will be Faith Night at
Banner Island Ballpark, featuring a Belt Bag giveaway and pregame and postgame worship
courtesy of First Baptist Church, Live Song Church, and Faith Community Church.
Single game tickets, mini plans, and group outings are all on sale for the 2024 season. For
more information, call the Ports front office at 209-644-1900 or email at
[email protected].