The defending California League champions got off to a hot start to the 2024 season, averaging more than 7 1/2 runs per game in winning two of three from the Stockton Ports at Banner Island Ballpark on opening weekend. With a lineup stacked at the top by four of the Seattle Mariners’ top nine prospects, Modesto’s bats came up big in the two wins.
Colt Emerson – MiLB.com
Game one on Friday went to Modesto, 7-2, with the Nuts pulling away late. Colt Emerson (Mariners #3 prospect) came up with one out in the top of the first and turned one around for a home run to put the Nuts up 1-0. The Ports got even in the fourth when Nate Nankill singled in Luke Mann, who had led off the inning with an infield single.
The Nuts put three runs on the board in the seventh and ninth innings to pull away for the win. DH Charlie Pagliarini hit his first home run of the year in the ninth inning, a two-run shot. RHP Tyler Gough started and went four innings for Modesto, allowing a run on three hits and a walk with four strikeouts.
Stockton C Cole Conn had three hits and an RBI to lead the offense. RHP Jackson Finley went four innings and allowed just the one run on Emerson’s homerun, with two walks and six strikeouts.
GAME TWO: ROAD TRIP
For Saturday’s game I rode the rails up to Stockton for my first road trip of the season. The Ports came back with a 4-2 victory that saw them keep the potent Modesto bats off the scoreboard until the sixth inning, ultimately surrendering just two runs on five hits.
Nankill was back at it with a two-run double in the first inning to put the Ports up for good. SS Myles Naylor (MLB.com #8 prospect) launched a two-run shot in the fifth inning to cap Stockton’s scoring and give the home team a 4-0 lead.
LHP Will Johnston went 4 2/3 scoreless innings for Stockton and left without having given up a hit. Johnston walked four and struck out eight, throwing 80 pitches, 49 for strikes. RHP Corey Avant got the last out in the fifth and ultimately got the win (1-0) for his 1/3 inning of work.
#6 Mariners prospect Jonny Farmelo launched his first homerun of the season in the top of the sixth to get Modesto on the board and #9 prospect Michael Arroyo did the same in the eighth to cap the scoring for both teams.
Modesto starter Will Schomberg gave up two runs on four hits and three walks over four innings, striking out seven.
Mann made two dazzling plays at 3B for Stockton in big moments, flashing both a great glove and a strong, accurate arm.
The crowd of 3,182 was the biggest of the weekend and the energy in the park was great. As a life-long Californian who should probably be living near the equator, I say it was COLD, and this is indicative of this first portion of baseball season. The games start off with bringing layers for when the sun goes away, then it transitions into my favorite part of the year when it’s blazing hot during the day and it feels great as it gets dark and cools down.
The park entertainment was great, including a pre-game concert on the concourse. The batting cages down the right-field line give fans an amazing look at these guys getting their swings right there amongst the crowd. The grassy areas beyond the outfield and the views of the river make Banner Island Ballpark a wonderful place to take in a game. Down the left-field line there’s a walk-in freezer where you go inside to get your beer and soda and come out the other side to pay. Pretty slick. Not especially on this night, but when it heats up it’ll be a godsend.
NUTS TAKE THE SERIES
Today the Nuts broke out big for 17 hits and six homeruns as they put up a 14-5 win. Stockton scored twice in the bottom of the first to go up 2-0 before Modesto scored in seven of the next eight innings for the game and series win.
Nate Nankill, yet again, came through in the first inning with a two- run shot to give the Ports the early 2-0 lead. The 2023 seventh-round draft pick out of Cal State Fullerton went 5-for-9 with two walks, two doubles, a homerun and six RBIs over the three-game series.
Modesto got even in the top of the second when C Connor Charping tripled in a pair of runs. Charping was 4-for-9 in two games with three RBIs.
Stockton’s Conn doubled in a run to put the Ports back up briefly at 3-2. Besides Nankill, Conn was another hitting star for Stockton over the weekend, going 7-for-11 with a walk and two doubles.
After that, it was bombs-away for Modesto with longballs from Emerson (2), #4 prospect Lazaro Montes (1), #30 prospect Luis Suisbel, Farmelo (2), and two from Aidan Smith (2).
RHP German Fajardo went three scoreless, hitless inning in relief with one walk and three Ks to pick up the win.
The hitting stars were all over the place for Modesto this weekend. Suisbel was 6-for-12, Montes was 5-for-12 and Smith was 4-for-14 with the two homers.
RHP German Fajardo went three scoreless, hitless innings in relief with one walk and three K’s for the win.
So, that’s it for Opening Weekend, we are definitely back. This coming week I will be going to either Visalia or Modesto, maybe both.
Rancho Cucamonga 3B Jake Gelof was named California League Player of the Week after going 6-for-13 with a double, a home run, three walks and 7 RBIs in four games against Stockton. The Dodgers’ #22 prospect per MLB.com was drafted in the second round of the 2023 draft, 60th overall, and played 30 games at Ranco Cucamonga last season.
