Hollingsworth propels Nuts past 66ers

Allows just 3 hits en route to his first victory in Modesto

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Ethan Hollingsworth's career received a boost when he was promoted to the Modesto Nuts in late June. The right-handed pitcher didn't have a lot to celebrate, however, until Wednesday afternoon.

Hollingsworth tossed seven innings of three-hit ball, striking out seven with no walks, as the Nuts beat Inland Empire 6-1 to finish a three-game series at Thurman Field.

Modesto moved closer to a wild-card entry in the California League playoffs. The Nuts hold an eight-game lead over Bakersfield and Visalia, with 23 games remaining.

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The wild-card race is based on a team's overall record.

The Nuts, who finished two games out of first place in the first half, are 64-53. San Jose (74-41) and High Desert (67-48) — division winners in the first half and the second-half leaders — are the only Cal League teams to do better.

If San Jose wins the second half, and it has a four-game lead over Stockton, the teams with the next two best overall records go to the playoffs. If San Jose is caught, the two division winners and one wild-card team go to the playoffs.

The Nuts scored four in the first, using a bases-loaded walk to Jeffrey Cunningham to score the first run. Scott Beerer lined a two-run single to right to cap the outburst.

That was plenty of support for Hollingsworth, who was 0-2 with a 5.83 ERA in his six starts at Modesto. He was 5-6 with a 4.05 ERA for Asheville (N.C.), the Colorado Rockies' lower-level Class A team.

Hollingsworth didn't allow a hit until Trayvon Robinson homered in the fourth, then the 66ers used two more singles to mount a threat. With two out and runners on first and second, however, Hollingsworth spun around to second and picked off a runner.

He retired the next nine batters and left with a 6-1 lead. The Nuts used a wild pitch and Jason Van Kooten's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth to extend their lead.

It was Hollingsworth's first start in Modesto where he did not allow a walk, and his seven strikeouts was his highest yet while in a Nuts' uniform.