Modesto Nuts scorched by Storm 10-3 in season opener

Rosell Herrera, the lone returning Modesto Nuts’ player in Thursday’s Opening Night lineup, got the 2015 season off to a resounding start with a first-inning home run.

But the celebration started and ended right there for the Nuts, as Lake Elsinore went on to flex its own muscles and pounded Modesto 10-3 in front of 7,164 fans at The Diamond.

Modesto starter Antonio Senzatela (0-1) got only five outs and was pulled while laboring to finish the Storm’s two-run second inning. Both runs he allowed during the inning were unearned because of a fielding error by shortstop Zach Osborne, and Shane Broyles came on to get the Nuts out of the inning.

Lake Elsinore then jumped on Broyles during a five-run fourth inning, highlighted by a two-run homer to left by leftfielder Nick Schultz – a San Jose State product making his California League debut.

Ryan Butler, a second-year player making his first professional start, limited Modesto to one run on five hits over five innings to earn the win.

Raimel Tapia and Mike Benjamin each drove-in runs in the seventh and finished with two hits apiece, while Osborne had three of Modesto’s 10 hits from the ninth spot in the order.

There were other good signs in the otherwise lost night. Six of the nine Nuts in the starting lineup collected hits, while pitchers Matt Pierpont and Carlos Estevez both emerged unscathed after their outings. Pierpont got all three outs in the Storm’s fourth to limit the damage and worked an easy fifth, while Estevez allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth.

Modesto, with a roster nearly completely revamped from last season, will play six more games on the road – three more in Lake Elsinore and three in Bakersfield – before next Thursday’s home opener against Inland Empire.

Konner Wade, who went 8-8 last season in Asheville, will get the start tonight for Modesto against Zech Lemond, San Diego’s third-round draft pick last year out of Rice University.

This story was originally published April 9, 2015 at 10:28 PM with the headline "Modesto Nuts scorched by Storm 10-3 in season opener."