French, Nuts blank Lake Elsinore

The Modesto Nuts, already in need of a lift, are getting it from Parker French.

French, the former Texas Longhorn who reported to Modesto last week from Low-A Asheville, produced 6 1/3 shutout innings Thursday as the Nuts celebrated Cinco de Mayo with an 8-0 win over Lake Elsinore at Thurman Field.

In two starts for the Nuts, French (1-0) has struck out 12 in 12 1/3 innings and has allowed only one earned run. His teammates supported him with a 14-hit attack and an early 5-0 lead as the Nuts (11-16) captured their third game in the four-game series.

Shane Hoelscher doubled home Omar Carrizales and Forrest Wall for the third hit of Modesto’s three-run first inning off the Storm’s Thomas Dorminy (0-4). Modesto tacked on three runs in the third after Wes Rogers drove in Carrizales with a double and Collin Ferguson (3-for-4) singled home Hoelscher.

Luis Jean’s bases-loaded double and an RBI double by Emerson Jimenez finished the game’s scoring in the fifth. Reliever Helmis Rodriguez went 2 2/3 innings to finish the two-man shutout.

Modesto travels to Stockton on Friday and Saturday night, then welcomes the Ports to Thurman on Sunday afternoon.

This story was originally published May 5, 2016 at 8:28 PM with the headline "French, Nuts blank Lake Elsinore."