Modesto Nuts drop two California League games in Stockton

The Modesto Nuts dropped two California League contests to the Stockton Ports on Monday, 4-3 in a makeup game from a rainout April 9 and 8-4 in the regularly scheduled contest at Banner Island Ballpark.

Both were seven-inning games.

In the makeup game, the Nuts overcame a 3-0 deficit, tying the score on Collin Ferguson’s two-run homer in the top of the seventh, but the Ports rallied to win in their last at-bat on Melvin Mercedes’ run-scoring triple off Craig Schlitter.

Ferguson’s homer was just the third hit of the game for Modesto, which was held in check by Stockton starter Heath Fillmyer, who gave up one run on two hits and two walks in six innings. Fillmyer struck out nine.

Modesto’s Tyler Matzek struck out five in two innings of relief, walking one and yielding one hit.

In the regularly scheduled contest, the Ports jumped out to a 6-0 lead after two innings, battering Modesto starter Parker French for six hits, including a two-run homer by Joe Bennie.

French retired the next seven batters but allowed two runs in the fifth and was relieved by Colin Welmon.

The Nuts rallied and cut the deficit to 6-4, scoring three in the third on a two-run homer by Shane Hoelscher and an RBI single by Josh Fuentes, then adding a run in the fifth on Forrest Wall’s run-scoring groundout.

Fuentes, Dom Nunez and Drew Weeks collected two hits apiece for Modesto.

The teams will continue their series Tuesday with a 7:10 p.m. contest in Stockton.

This story was originally published June 14, 2016 at 1:02 AM with the headline "Modesto Nuts drop two California League games in Stockton."