Modesto Nuts’ Freeland remembers, gets even with Visalia

The last time Kyle Freeland pitched against the Visalia Rawhide, he was rocked for four home runs in seven innings work.

That memory stuck, and not just because it was only two weeks ago. Like all professional ballplayers, Freeland was forced to adjust. He did.

The lifelong Rockies fan from Denver answered with 71/3 quality innings, the foundation of the Modesto Nuts’ 5-2 win Saturday night.

“I had to live low in the zone and pitched them away most of the night,” said Freeland (2-2), who scattered eight hits. More important, none sailed out of Thurman Field.

This time, Visalia was not allowed to sit on Freeland’s fastball. His command was too good.

“I took a different route this time,” he said.

Freeland also was empowered by the Modesto offense, which produced all its runs in the final four innings. The Nuts, still two games behind Stockton as they chase a wild-card berth with eight games left, pieced together some nifty situational hitting to build a lead.

Dillon Thomas’ sacrifice bunt preceded the game’s first two runs – an RBI single by Wilfredo Rodriguez through a drawn-in infield and a sacrifice fly by Raimel Tapia in the fifth.

Ryan McMahon’s sacrifice fly, after Rosell Herrera’s triple, kept Visalia at bay in the sixth. Run-scoring doubles by Correlle Prime (3 for 3) and Ashley Graeter cushioned the lead before Matt Carasiti retired Visalia in order in the ninth.

The Nuts are fighting shorthanded after injuries three nights ago to infielders Emerson Jimenez and Wilson Soriano. Michael Benjamin Jr. switched to shortstop and Graeter – a catcher most of the season – filled in well at second. Then again, Graeter was a shortstop at Southern Mississippi. Modesto turned two double plays and was solid defensively.

“Freeland was giving it (the ground balls) to them,” Graeter said. “When I’m catching, we’re always talking about inducing a ground ball.”

Visalia starter Johnny Shuttlesworth (3-3), normally a reliever, matched zeroes with Freeland until Modesto broke through in the fifth.

The Rawhide, bidding to sweep both halves in the California League’s North Division, will free up two wild-card berths if they hold on over San Jose. In one sense, Visalia losses do not help Modesto. But in the larger picture for the Nuts, they must overtake Stockton.

“The bottom line is beating Stockton,” manager Fred Ocasio said.

Notes – The Nuts will finish the home portion of the schedule against the Rawhide on Sunday night at 6:05. Modesto’s Antonio Senzatela (9-7, 2.47), the Cal League Pitcher of the Year, goes against Brett Shankin (0-2, 7.04). It will be the 20th game in as many days for the Nuts, who will be off Monday before they embark on a seven-game trip to conclude the regular season. Modesto will travel to San Jose for three games and four at Stockton. ... The Nuts lost the services of Soriano and Jimenez within a few minutes Thursday night at Lake Elsinore. Jimenez, squaring around to bunt, was hit near the eye with a pitched ball that caromed off the dirt. Soriano jammed a finger sliding into a base. Neither has played since, though Jimenez might be available in an emergency Sunday night. ... If Modesto is tied with San Jose or Stockton for the wild-card berth at season’s end, there will be a one-game playoff.

This story was originally published August 29, 2015 at 10:49 PM with the headline "Modesto Nuts’ Freeland remembers, gets even with Visalia."