Castellani, Ferguson propel Modesto Nuts past Inland Empire 66ers

Collin Ferguson doubled in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning and Ryan Castellani worked into the eighth to help the Modesto Nuts to a 5-3 win over the Inland Empire 66ers on Thursday night at John Thurman Field.

With the score tied 3-3, Ferguson doubled to left, plating Drew Weeks with the go-ahead run. The Nuts scored again an inning later when Omar Carrizales hit a two-out triple to right and then went home on a wild pitch.

Castellani (3-6) allowed a triple and double, respectively, with two outs in the first inning and fell behind 1-0. After Modesto tied the score on Wes Rogers’ RBI single in the third, the 66ers regained the lead in the fourth on Roberto Baldoquin’s RBI groundout and then added to it in the fifth when Zach Welz belted a solo home run.

Castellani shut down Inland Empire after that. The right-hander went 7 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and three runs while walking three and fanning three. Adam Ottavino allowed two hits but struck out the side for his first save of the season.

The Nuts scored four unanswered runs starting in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Rogers stole his 27th base of the season, which ties Lancaster’s Bobby Boyd for the California League lead, while Max White swiped his 25th.

Modesto and Inland Empire continue their four-game series Saturday at 7:05 p.m. and then conclude the set with a 1:05 p.m. start Sunday.

This story was originally published June 17, 2016 at 5:06 PM with the headline "Castellani, Ferguson propel Modesto Nuts past Inland Empire 66ers."