No doubt as Thomas spurs Nuts over Lake Elsinore 12-2 for first win

Dillon Thomas made sure his team did not go quietly into Friday night.

The Modesto Nuts’ right fielder collected his first two hits of the young season during an eight-run seventh inning that broke open a tie game and allowed the Nuts to bash Lake Elsinore 12-2 before 2,973 at The Diamond.

Zach Osborne’s two-run triple snapped the 2-2 tie, and Jordan Patterson followed much later in the inning with a bases-loaded triple as the Nuts collected seven hits in the frame en route to evening their record at 1-1. It’s the first time since 2011 the Nuts have not started a season 0-2. Patterson added a two-run homer in the ninth to complete the onslaught and a five-RBI game.

Modesto received six strong innings from starter Konner Wade (1-0), who gave up two runs and seven hits and walked only one while whiffing six Storm batters.

But through six innings, Wade’s effort was being matched by Lake Elsinore starter Zech Lemond, who struck out seven and allowed six hits, including a solo homer in the second by Ryan McMahon. Lemond was pulled after six and replaced by Matthew Shepherd, who was charged with the loss and seven earned runs while retiring only two of the nine batters he faced.

Every Modesto starter collected at least one hit, with Troy Stein lining three hits and McMahon, Thomas, Patterson and Raimel Tapia finishing with two hits apiece to fuel the Nuts’ 15-hit attack.

The season-opening four-game series continues tonight at the California League’s southernmost outpost. Johendi Jiminian, who had a breakout 14-6 season in 2014 with Asheville, will make his Nuts debut against Ronald Herrera, a 19-year-old Venezuelan righty.

This story was originally published April 10, 2015 at 9:52 PM with the headline "No doubt as Thomas spurs Nuts over Lake Elsinore 12-2 for first win."