Tim Smalling is one of only two position players on the Modesto Nuts who was part of last year's North Division title squad.

Three years into his professional baseball career, Derek Eaton finally got a home game on Thursday night.

Lancaster infielder Delino Deshields has a minor injury and hasn't played in this series, but Brian VanderBeek remembers when Deshields' father ruled all the high school fields in Delaware.

The vast majority of Modesto Nuts players never had played a home game at John Thurman Field prior to Thursday night. The first lesson of the season, in the midst of Modesto's 5-1 opening night loss to Lancaster, was absorbed by Nuts left fielder Tyler Massey.

Modesto fans, after the hometown Nuts have spent a week on the road, finally get their chance tonight to see star prospect Trevor Story — a 2011 first-round draft pick of Colorado — and his teammates play at John Thurman Field.

Nuts' pitching helped team survive a first week that had it play seven games on the road in the South Division

The Modesto Nuts are coming home for the first time — and just in time.

A quiet Tuesday night at the plate eventually caught up to the Modesto Nuts. Rancho Cucamonga broke up a scoreless game with a run in the eighth to win 1-0 and snap the Nuts' three-game winning streak.

The Modesto Nuts won their third straight game Monday night on the strength of their pitching, defeating the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 3-2.

The Modesto Nuts sought positive reinforcement after two tough one-run losses to open the California League season.

Two games into the 2013 season, and the Modesto Nuts already are hurting after two difficult losses. The Nuts led on two occasions Friday night but still were beaten when the Inland Empire 66ers scored twice in the eighth inning for a 4-3 win.

These guys have a lot to learn. But the same can be said every year on Opening Day, when 25 athletes from around the world, thrown together by baseball kismet, step on the diamond to begin their summer as representatives of Modesto.

The Colorado Rockies formally announced their minor league coaching staffs on Monday, including Lenn Sakata's return to Modesto for a second season as the manager of the Modesto Nuts.

Reports have surfaced through the Internet and confirmed through baseball sources that Lenn Sakata will be returning for his second year at the Nuts' helm and will be joined by pitching coach Dave Burba and hitting coach Jon Stone.