Defense costs Modesto Nuts fifth straight loss

One week ago, the Modesto Nuts enjoyed a hard-earned margin for error as they campaigned toward a California League playoff berth.

So much for that margin for error.

Defensive miscues cost the Nuts an early lead and an eventual 2-1 loss to Stockton – Modesto’s fifth straight setback – before 958 mostly quiet fans Tuesday night at Thurman Field.

The loss, worsened by a game-ending bases-loaded double play off the bat of Correlle Prime, leaves the Nuts a game ahead of the Ports for the North Division wild-card berth. Visalia, the first-half champion, slipped one game ahead of San Jose and the Nuts with 26 games left in the North.

Ryan McMahon hustled from first to third on Rosell Herrera’s single to left to encourage the Nuts in the ninth. Prime, who’s pounded three grand slams this season, needed only a single to erase the memory of three earlier strikeouts. Instead, he hit it hard but straight to third baseman Melvin Mercedes.

The Nuts’ clubhouse, more quiet than usual after a loss, signaled the team’s current state. They scored only nine runs during four sobering losses at Bakersfield over the weekend and, once again, their offense did not ignite to open the six-game homestand.

“Lately, it’s been one thing happening and ‘Here we go again,’” designated hitter Dillon Thomas said. “We know we can play. We just can’t let one inning like that beat us. It’s a matter of showing up and putting the work in.”

Both Stockton runs were unearned, and the second betrayed reliever Matt Pierpont (5-4) in the eighth. A two-hopper to second baseman Wilson Soriano, a potential double-play ball, skipped off his glove for an error and moved Mercedes (leadoff single) to third. Jacob Nottingham’s sacrifice fly to center eventually decided it.

The tenuous world of young pro ballplayers was on display this night.

The Stockton battery featured right-handed pitcher Daniel Mengden and Nottingham behind the plate. They started the season in Lancaster until they were involved in the July 23 trade with Oakland for former Houston Astro Scott Kazmir.

Mengden (4-3) and Nottingham, after being notified of the trade before a Stockton-Lancaster game, merely switched dugouts.

Mengden’s yesteryears overhead windup proved effective against Modesto. He struck out six and allowed only three hits in seven strong innings.

The Nuts scored a discounted run in the first for a 1-0 lead. Michael Benjamin Jr. singled, advanced on two two-out wild pitches and scored on the back end of an attempted double steal with McMahon.

Meanwhile, the Nuts’ Zach Jemiola seemed en route to his second consecutive win. He shut out Stockton for 31/3 innings until he grabbed his shoulder and exited with one out in the fourth.

From that point, the game slowly unraveled for the Nuts, though reliever Devin Burke did well until the sixth.

Back-to-back walks eventually hurt, though the tying run wasn’t plated until Burke’s two-out error on an errant pickoff throw to first.

This story was originally published August 11, 2015 at 10:47 PM with the headline "Defense costs Modesto Nuts fifth straight loss."