Modesto Nuts continue to feast on Stockton pitching

The Modesto Nuts reached double digits in runs for the second consecutive game, beating the Stockton Ports 10-7 on Sunday night at Banner Island Ballpark.

Modesto erupted for five runs in the top of the second inning to take a 5-1 advantage.

Nuts right fielder Drew Weeks went 4 for 5, including a two-run home run in the second, and has multiple hits in seven of his last nine games.

Weeks, who drove in four runs Sunday, saw his average dip to .194 during an 0-for-10 stretch that ended July 5, but he’s hitting .425 with three homers and 13 RBIs in 10 games since.

Wes Rogers and Shane Hoelscher collected two hits apiece for the Nuts, who lifted themselves out of the Cal League’s North Division cellar. Modesto (9-15) was tied for third in the second-half standings, nine games behind front-running Bakersfield (18-6), before playing Stockton on Monday night.

The Ports tied the score in the fourth inning, but the Nuts reclaimed the lead for good in the sixth. Weeks and catcher Dom Nunez hit back-to-back singles to lead off. Weeks scored on a single by Hoelscher, and Nunez scored on a wild pitch.

Modesto starter Helmis Rodriguez was ineffective in four innings, giving up five runs – four earned – on six hits and a walk.

Troy Neiman earned the victory in relief, striking out three and allowing two hits in three scoreless innings.

Luis Niebla took over for Logan Cozart in the ninth and earned his fourth save of the season.

The four-game series with the Ports concludes Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. The Nuts have Wednesday off, then return to John Thurman Field on Thursday to open a four-game set against Bakersfield at 7:05.

This story was originally published July 18, 2016 at 8:47 PM with the headline "Modesto Nuts continue to feast on Stockton pitching."