Errors costly in Modesto Nuts’ Cal League loss to San Jose

The San Jose Giants scored three runs in the top of the second inning, aided by two errors by Modesto Nuts third baseman Ryan McMahon, and held on for a 4-2 California League victory Wednesday night at John Thurman Field.

Modesto answered with two in the bottom of the second when Ashley Graeter and Dillon Thomas scored on an error by Giants first baseman Brian Ragira.

The Nuts squandered an opportunity to tie the score in the third after McMahon doubled to lead off the frame and then advanced to third on a wild pitch with one out. After a walk by Rosell Herrera put runners on the corners, San Jose pitcher Keury Mella picked off Herrera at first and then fanned Graeter to escape.

Offensivley for Modesto, Thomas was the lone player with a pair hits, going 2-for-4 to raise his average to .200. Left fielder Ramiel Tapia went 0-for-3 as his average dipped to .341, which trails only league leader Brandon Trinkwon (.367) of Rancho Cucamonga.

The loss drops the Nuts’ record to 17-16 in the Cal League’s North Division as they remain seven games back of front-running Visalia, which lost 2-0 to Lancaster Wednesday. San Jose (11-22) is in last place in the North, 13 games off the Rawhide’s pace.

Modesto and San Jose play the rubber match of their three-game set Thursday at 7:05 p.m. before the Nuts head to Stockton for a four-game series against Stockton at Banner Island Ballpark. The Nuts’ Johendi Jiminian (2-3, 5.63) will look to even his record against Giants left-hander D.J. Snelten (0-4, 5.32), who’s searching for his first victory of the season.

This story was originally published May 14, 2015 at 12:40 AM with the headline "Errors costly in Modesto Nuts’ Cal League loss to San Jose."