Modesto Nuts fall to Stockton in Cal League baseball opener

The 2016 season got off to a rough start for the Modesto Nuts as they suffered a 13-2 road loss Thursday to the Stockton Ports at Banner Island Ballpark.

Starter Jesus Tinoco was tagged for seven hits – including two-run home runs by Tyler Marincov and James Harris in the first and second innings, respectively – and eight earned runs in just 1  2/3 innings of work.

Modesto’s bullpen didn’t fare much better.

Helmis Rodriguez took over for Tinoco in the second and yielded six hits and four earned runs in 4  1/3 innings. Colin Welmon gave up three hits and a run in the seventh.

Only Craig Schlitter, who took over for Welmon in the eighth, impressed. He struck out a pair in working a perfect eighth.

Offensively for the Nuts, leadoff man Wes Rogers and No. 2 hitter Forrest Wall each collected a pair of hits. Wall’s first hit of the season was a two-run homer in the fifth off starter Daniel Gossett.

The teams will meet again Saturday at 7:10 p.m. Right-hander Carlos Polanco takes the mound for the Nuts, while righty Heath Fillmyer will start for the Ports.

Modesto will make its home opener Thursday against the Ports at 7:05 p.m.

This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 12:42 PM with the headline "Modesto Nuts fall to Stockton in Cal League baseball opener."