Ports Routed by Rival Nuts in Series Opener

MODESTO, Ca. – The Ports’ second half woes continued Monday night as the Modesto Nuts pounded out 20 hits in a 20-3 rout of the Ports on Independence Day at John Thurman Field.

Monday night was the second time the Ports (26-50) have given up at least 20 runs in a game in the last week.

The Ports took the lead on a two-out hit off Modesto starter Bryan Woo in the top of the first inning. After a two-out walk to Marcos Brito, Shane McGuire started a big night with a line drive double down the left field line to score Brito from first base and give the Ports a 1-0 lead.

The Nuts (38-38), however, took the lead before Stockton starter Luke Anderson could record an out in the bottom of the first. After a leadoff walk to Jonatan Clase, Edwin Arroyo doubled off the right field wall to score Clase from first base to tie the game at one. Harry Ford then followed with a single to left center driving in Arroyo to give the Nuts a 2-1 lead. After a flyball, single and a strikeout, Ford scored from second base on a single up the middle by Freuddy Batista to make it 3-1 Modesto.

Modesto extended their lead with three two-out runs in the bottom of the second inning. With the bases loaded and two away, Ben Ramirez reached on an infield single to the right side to score one run, and another came home to score on an errant throw to first base by Ports’ second baseman Mariano Ricciardi to make it 5-1. With runners on the corners, Walking Cabrera singled to right field to score Robert Perez, Jr. from third base, giving the Nuts a 6-1 lead.

After the Ports got an unearned run in the top of the fourth, the Nuts exploded for seven runs on five hits in the fourth inning and seven more unearned runs on five hits and two errors in the fifth to blow the game open at 20-2.

The Ports got one more run in the seventh. Max Muncy led off with a double and came around to score when McGuire notched his third hit of the day, a single through the right side to make it 20-3. McGuire finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs, a home run shy of the cycle.

Tyler Driver (5-0) got the win for the Nuts allowing just one run on four hits while striking out four, while Anderson (4-6) took the loss for Stockton surrendering six runs on eight hits in three innings. The right-hander struck out six.

After a day off Tuesday, the Ports and Nuts continue their six-game series with game two on Wednesday at John Thurman Field in Modesto with first pitch at 7:05 pm.