Modesto Nuts threaten in ninth, fall to Visalia

The Modesto Nuts, silent on offense for most of Tuesday night, teased their fans with a ninth-inning threat before they were beaten by Visalia 3-1.

Wes Rogers opened the ninth with a double, followed by a single by Dom Nunez off Rawhide reliever Bud Jeter. But the game ended on consecutive strikeouts by Collin Ferguson, Drew Weeks and Max White to disappoint an announced crowd of 3,012 at Thurman Field.

Modesto, which won four of its previous five entering the game, was victimized by 27-year-old right-handed pitcher Luke Irvine (3-0). He topped Nuts starter Parker French by giving up only one hit in 6 2/3 innings – a single by Nunez in the first. After the hit, Irvine retired 16 straight.

French (2-1), who has pitched well since his call-up from Low-A Asheville, gave up nine hits and single runs in the second, fourth and seventh. French struck out three in seven innings.

The Nuts broke through in the seventh on White’s RBI bloop single after Irvine exited. Modesto was outhit 10-4 by the Rawhide, the California League North Division leader.

The three-game series continued Wednesday night and concludes Thursday at Thurman. Modesto then travels to San Bernardino for a four-game set against Inland Empire from Friday through Monday.

This story was originally published May 17, 2016 at 10:31 PM with the headline "Modesto Nuts threaten in ninth, fall to Visalia."