Modesto Nuts stranded in loss to San Jose Giants

One statistic stands out in the box score telling the story of the Modesto Nuts’ 4-1 California League loss to the San Jose Giants on Sunday night: 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position.

The Nuts pounded 11 hits in front of an announced crowd of 1,001 at John Thurman Field, but only Ryan McMahon’s leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth inning produced a run.

Modesto stranded two runners each in the eighth and ninth. Before that, the Nuts had two runners caught stealing and hit into one double play.

Meanwhile, San Jose made its 12 hits count. The Giants scored two runs in the top of the third on an RBI single by Christian Arroyo and an RBI double by Angel Villalona. Arroyo punched another run-scoring single in the fifth, and Brandon Bednar singled in a run in the sixth.

That was enough to help Jose Reyes register his first victory – and lower his ERA to 8.80. Reyes scattered nine hits over eight-plus innings, walked none and struck out seven. He gave the ball to Dan Slania after allowing McMahon’s bomb (his eighth of the season), and Slania, between allowing singles to Rosell Herrera and Michael Benjamin, struck out the side, including Troy Stein to end it. It was Slania’s 13th save. Stein represented the tying run.

Herrera went 3 for 4. McMahon, Benjamin and Wilson Soriano each had two hits.

The Nuts will try to salvage the final game of the three-game series Monday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

This story was originally published July 12, 2015 at 9:50 PM with the headline "Modesto Nuts stranded in loss to San Jose Giants."