Nuts beat San Jose for second straight win

Sam Howard bounced back, Shane Hoelscher stayed hot and the Modesto Nuts built a modest winning streak.

Wes Rogers’ suicide squeeze in the seventh put the Nuts ahead to stay as they knocked off the San Jose Giants 5-2 Friday night at Municipal Stadium. Modesto (14-20) won its second straight game as it opened a four-game series against San Jose.

Howard (2-1), a third-year pro out of Georgia Southern, struck out 10, walked none and allowed only two runs and four hits in seven strong innings. The 6-foot-3 lefty, who improved his ERA to 3.44, walked six in his previous outing against Stockton.

Hoelscher, the Modesto third baseman, went 3-for-4, singled home a run in the first and also singled during an important two-run eighth. He is a sizzling 14 for his last 26.

The Nuts broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh when Wilson Soriano walked and Omar Carrizales singled off San Jose starter D.J. Snelton (1-3). Rogers laid down the bunt to bring in the go-ahead run.

Luis Jean singled to center to plate Collin Ferguson and Hoelscher for the insurance runs in the eighth.

Logan Cozart got the final six outs, two via strikeout, to register his first save. Modesto outhit San Jose (19-13) 12-4.

The teams meet Saturday night at San Jose, then finish the series at Thurman Field on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 and Monday night.

This story was originally published May 13, 2016 at 10:49 PM with the headline "Nuts beat San Jose for second straight win."