Hale solid in major league rehab, but Nuts fall 5-0 to Visalia

There are so many positives in those nights a player comes down from the major leagues to play in the minors, it almost can overshadow the result.

So from that standpoint, at least the Modesto Nuts were able to take something away from their 5-0 loss Monday to Visalia at John Thurman Field.

David Hale was in town for a Colorado Rockies rehabilitation assignment. And while that name won’t cause hour-long queues at the ticket booth in Modesto, the Rockies were very interested in seeing how he pitched.

“If I were a pitcher here I think I’d be watching him very carefully to see how he pitched,” said Nuts’ manager Fred Ocasio. “They should have seen how he worked inside and mixed his pitches, to see how he went around his business.”

All the Nuts also ate well, since the major leaguer buying the post-game spread is a long-standing minor league tradition.

Hale left the ballpark before the game ended, but his likely one-night-only teammates perked up following the ugly loss when they were greeted by a catered steak dinner.

A part-time starter last season for the Atlanta Braves, Hale was sent to Denver in a trade for two Rockies’ minor leaguers, including former Nuts’ catcher Chris O’Dowd.

The 27-year-old righty went to spring training very much in the running for a spot in the Colorado rotation, and appeared to be ready to break camp with the team for opening day.

But that was before Hale strained an oblique muscle in late March, and his appearance in Modesto was a step toward building back toward a return to the majors.

All that really mattered was that he threw freely, without pain, and that was immediately evident. His fastball hit 94 MPH in the first inning, and he threw 35 strikes against 12 balls, using fastball, changeup and slider, in his 2 1/3 innings of work.

“That’s the first time I’d seen him and he looked like he had a pretty good changeup going,” said Modesto pitching coach Brandon Emanuel. “He got some ground balls, but the main thing was to make sure he felt good with the oblique, and he said he did. He was pleased overall with what went on.”

Hale took the loss because the Rawhide turned two errors – one on the pitcher – into two unearned runs in the second inning. Modesto would commit four errors – giving them seven in their last two games – and strike out 10 times against four Visalia pitchers.

“Offensively we didn’t get anything going and we didn’t play well defensively,” said Nuts manager Fred Ocasio. “So that’s not generally a good combination to win games.”

The two early runs would be more than enough to support starter Zack Godley, who mowed through the Nuts’ order. Over six innings, the former University of Tennessee standout – acquired by the Diamondbacks from the Cubs in the deal that sent catcher Miguel Montero to Chicago – allowed four hits while fanning seven.

Three of the hits were doubles – by Raimel Tapia, Dillon Thomas and Ryan McMahon – but no Modesto player would reach third base until Rosell Herrera tripled off reliever Keith Hessler with one out in the seventh.

The Rawhide, off to the California League’s best start at 9-3, padded the lead when Kevin Kron and Stewart Ljames launched back-to-back homers in the fifth off Troy Nieman.

The Rockies have not announced their intent for Hale’s next rehab start, but Ocasio was asked jokingly if Hale should have to win a game in the California League before moving along.

“That would be great,” Ocasio said. “Maybe next time he can go seven.”

NUTS NOTES – Oakdale High grad Nick Vander Tuig made the most of his first start of the season for the San Jose Giants on Monday, limiting Inland Empire to one infield single over five innings. A restricted pitch count ended his night after the fifth, and he left having faced the minimum 15 66ers, collecting four strikeouts against no walks. He also left in the middle of a scoreless game, so did not figure in the decision in a game the Giants won 5-0.

This story was originally published April 20, 2015 at 10:20 PM with the headline "Hale solid in major league rehab, but Nuts fall 5-0 to Visalia."