Grand slam not enough for Modesto Nuts in loss to close first half

Zach Cone hit a two-out, two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning to lift the High Desert Mavericks to an 8-6 victory over the Modesto Nuts on Sunday at John Thurman Field.

Lewis Brinson also homored for High Desert, which outhit Modesto 11-10. Brinson, Cone, Alberto Triunfel and Ryan Cordell each had two hits for the Mavericks.

Rosell Herrera hit a two-out grand slam in the bottom of the fifth for Modesto, which got two hits each from Jordan Patterson and Correlle Prime. Ryan McMahon scored twice for the Nuts.

Reliever Connor Sadzeck (1-0), the third of four High Desert pitchers, earned the victory, allowing an unearned run while striking out five in two innings. Jose Valdespina worked the eighth and ninth for his second save.

Reliever Matt Pierpont (3-3) took the loss for Modesto after allowing Cone’s 14th homer of the season. Nuts starter Konner Wade allowed five earned runs and seven hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out two.

The Mavericks added an insurance run in the ninth off Trent Daniel on a bases-loaded walk to Royce Bolinger.

Sunday afternoon’s game ended the first half of the season for the Nuts.

Third baseman McMahon, left fielder Patterson and pitcher Antonio Senzatela will represent the team at the California League-Carolina League All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Rancho Cucamonga.

Modesto will begin the 70-game second half with a four-game series at San Jose starting Thursday.

This story was originally published June 21, 2015 at 8:31 PM with the headline "Grand slam not enough for Modesto Nuts in loss to close first half."