Nuts open final home series with victory

Players refocus on playoff run as season enters final month

By Brian VanderBeek
bvanderbeek@modbee.com

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For the Modesto Nuts this is the last regular-season homestand. And this seven-game set at John Thurman Field, which opened with Monday's 8-1 win over Lake Elsinore, will be followed by the final road trip.

Yes, it's late August — which means minor-league baseball players are close enough to the end to be able to smell the finish line.

For that exact reason, Nuts' manager Jerry Weinstein briefly addressed his team last week and reminded them just exactly where their minds should be when the calendar strikes September.

2008 Modesto Nuts Jerry Weinstein - Manager Banks and Co. Photography

"The finish line is September 21, and that's what we're thinking about," Weinstein said, referencing the date of a possible Game 5 of the California League championship series.

"Everything we do now is directed toward that, and to finish first at that juncture."

Addressing winning, let alone talking about a championship, is a rarity for Weinstein. From the first day of spring training he speaks in terms of development, about how preparation and process is more important than wins.

But now that 90 percent of the work is done, and the magic number to clinch a playoff spot has been reduced to 3 with Visalia's loss to San Jose, there's nothing wrong with including winning in your goals — as long as the dedication to proper approach remains strong.

"I don't have to worry about these guys and how they approach things," Weinstein said. "We had one little discussion when guys started getting consumed by the football draft and who is going to instructional ball, and who is going to the fall league.

"Not that any of that took away from the game, but there was an awful lot of discussion about other things. Guys were wondering who they were driving home with after the season and where they were stopping on the way.

"We have a month to go here, and if these guys are going to the big leagues they have two months to go at this point. It's no time to start thinking about folding the tents."

If Monday's win is any indication, the Nuts' focus remains steadfast on the task at hand.

Modesto got six strong innings from Ethan Hollingsworth (3-2,) followed by three innings of zeroes from Joey Williamson and Austin Chambliss, and the Nuts put away the Storm during a six-run sixth that was as solid as any offensive effort this season.

The Nuts got a run in the first on Jeff Cunningham's RBI double, and added a second on Scott Beerer's home run to left in the second.

Lake Elsinore, which is in a wild-card race of its own in the South Division, scored its run in the fourth when Brian Joyny hit a Hollingsworth fastball off the scoreboard.

It stayed 2-1 until the sixth, when Modesto proceeded to unload on Lake Elsinore starter Jeremy Hefner (12-9.) Matt Repec led off with a double, Jay Cox beat out a bunt and Beerer lined an RBI single for a 3-1 lead.

Lars Davis was safe when his sacrifice bunt attempt resulted in a wild throw to first, loading the bases, and Warren Schaeffer hit the next pitch into right-center for a two-run double and a 5-1 margin.

Eric Gonzalez, the lone Spanish national playing professional baseball in America, entered in relief and allowed Brian Rike's sacrifice fly, a single to Charlie Blackmon and Jason Van Kooten's league-best 42nd double.

That was eight batters and eight straight productive at-bats as the Nuts looked like anything but a team sniffing the end of the season.

"Jerry warns us about that every day, how we're not to do that," Schaeffer said. "We have a lot to accomplish this year once we get into the playoffs.

"He told us the season doesn't end until when ... September 21? That's the final day, and we're still plugging away."

Bee staff writer Brian VanderBeek can be reached at 578-2300 or bvanderbeek@modbee.com.