Modesto Nuts avert sweep and regain first place over San Jose Giants

The Modesto Nuts sought something, anything, to shake free from their San Jose malaise.

They found their change-agent Wednesday night in right fielder Drew Weeks. Specifically, the arm of Drew Weeks.

Modesto’s 6-1 win, which vaulted the Nuts into sole possession of first place in the California League’s North Division, was triggered by Weeks. He denied the Giants an early 1-0 lead, a potential hammer for a team which had won 11 of 18 over Modesto and its last five at Thurman Field.

San Jose’s Tyler Horan, tagging up from third on Ty Ross’ fly ball in the top of the third inning, owned a better than 50-50 chance of scoring. Instead, Weeks made the catch while drifting toward the foul line and cut down Horan with a one-hop dart to catcher Troy Stein.

“Big momentum swing,” Weeks summarized. “I knew (Horan) wasn’t that fast, so I thought I had a shot at him. I think I have a chance to get anyone.”

Weeks collected his third assist since his promotion from Asheville 12 games ago. His plus arm was a major reason why he was drafted last year out of North Florida. He compiled the second-most assists in the nation as a collegian.

Indeed, Weeks nearly threw out the Oakland Athletics’ Coco Crisp while he rehabbed last month in Stockton. Erasing base runners is what he does.

More important, he empowered the Nuts and knocked San Jose from its unlikely comfort zone in Modesto’s own park. The Nuts followed his defensive gem with four take-charge runs over the next two innings.

Modesto starter Zach Jemiola (5-3) changed speeds and limited the San Jose offense to four hits. He ended six of his seven innings with strikeouts – three looking and three swinging – none better than his well-placed 96-mph blazer to Seth Harrison on the right-hander’s 102nd and final pitch.

The Nuts, after congratulating Weeks in the dugout, struck for two runs in the third off Jason Forjet (4-4). Catcher Troy Stein was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on Michael Benjamin Jr.’s single over the glove of shortstop Christian Arroyo. Raimel Tapia, who had walked, raced home on Rosell Herrera’s sacrifice fly.

The bottom of the Modesto lineup continued its onslaught in the fourth. A double by Dillon Thomas and singles by Ashley Graeter and Emerson Jimenez increased the lead to 4-0.

Stein hustled to a run in the sixth via an error, steals of second and third and a race home after Jeff Soptic’s wild pitch rolled only about 10 feet from the plate. Ryan McMahon doubled home Benjamin for more insurance in the seventh.

The win, if not a must for Modesto, ranked as bigger than routine. It also will smooth the bumps on the Nuts’ bus ride to Bakersfield on Thursday morning.

“Sports is all about momentum,” Weeks said. “And that game was for first place.”

Notes – Konner Wade (7-6) starts for Modesto on Thursday night against Jake Zokan (1-1) to start the four-game series at Bakersfield. Eighteen of the Nuts’ remaining 31 games will be on the road. They’ll finish with a seven-game trip at San Jose and Stockton, games that almost surely will hold playoff implications.

This story was originally published August 5, 2015 at 10:48 PM with the headline "Modesto Nuts avert sweep and regain first place over San Jose Giants."