Tag Archives: Colt Emerson

MODESTO TAKES 2 OF 3 IN STOCKTON TO OPEN 2024

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.

MODESTO PLAYERS FEATURED IN SPRING BREAKOUT

The Modesto Nuts sent out a Nuts Baseball Bulletin this past Thursday with details on the parent club Mariners’ roster for the inaugural Spring Breakout game to be played on Friday, March 15th:

The Mariners Spring Breakout Roster Released

Major League Baseball and the Seattle Mariners today announced the Mariners roster for the inaugural Spring Breakout game, set for Friday, March 15 at 1:10 p.m. PT against the San Diego Padres.

The debut of Spring Breakout will showcase baseball’s future stars, as each Major League Club will field a team of top prospects to play a team of top prospects from another organization in an exhibition game.

Eleven players on the roster featured, played and ended their season with the Modesto Nuts in 2023.

The roster features 21 of the Mariners’ top-30 prospects according to MLB.com, including each of their top-10 prospects: #1 Cole Young, #2 Harry Ford, #3 Colt Emerson, #4 Lazaro Montes, #5 Felnin Celesten, #6 Jonny Farmelo, #7 Tai Peete, #8 Tyler Locklear, #9 Michael Arroyo and #10 Jonatan Clase.

Who will be with Modesto in 2024? Get an early look at the future stars on March 15th.

The Mariners Spring Breakout game will be televised live from Peoria Stadium on ROOT Sports with Aaron Goldsmith and Mike Blowers on the call, as well as broadcast live on Seattle Sports (710 AM) with Dave Sims and Gary Hill Jr. on the call. The game will also be televised live on MLB Network.

MODESTO SWEEPS RANCHO FOR CAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

Colt Emerson had four hits and four RBIs as to lead the Modesto Nuts to a 14-8 win over Rancho Cucamonga for the California League championship. The Nuts swept the first two games of the best-of-three series to claim their first league title since 2017.

Modesto erased a 1-0 deficit with a four-run second inning and stretched it out to a 6-1 lead before Rancho Cucamonga came back with two runs in the fourth to make it 6-3. A run in the fifth made it 7-3, Modesto, but the Quakes answered with five runs in the bottom of the fifth to take an 8-7 lead.

But that was it for Rancho Cucamonga while Modesto kept adding on.

The Nuts got the lead right back with three in the sixth en route to seven unanswered runs.

Michael Arroyo was 3-for-6 with a triple, two RBIs and three runs scored. Luis Suisbel was 2-for-6 with a home run.

Modesto finished the season in dominant fashion, chasing down the Fresno Grizzlies to claim the second-half crown in the North division, then kept rolling through the playoffs. Overall, it is Modesto’s 10th league championship and its second since it became an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.

MODESTO – 14
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – 8
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MODESTO SWEEPS, RANCHO CUCAMAMONGA FORCES GM 3

The Modesto Nuts punched their ticket to the California League championship series with a 13-4 romp over San Jose to sweep their North division playoff series. It was typical of Modesto’s late-season dominance as they scored their 13 runs on 17 hits and drew six walks while scoring multiple runs in four straight innings. The Giants got out to a 4-0 lead and ultimately used seven pitchers with no answers to the Nuts’ high-powered offense.

Michael Arroyo was 5-for-5 with a home run, four RBIs and three runs scored. Tatem Levins had three hits and a walk with two RBIs and two runs scored. Colt Emerson had three hits and drove in three runs.

Riley Davis pitched six shutout innings out of the bullpen for Modesto, allowing two hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

Game one of the championship series will be on Sunday at 5:05 pm in Modesto.

MODESTO – 13
SAN JOSE – 4
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The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes built a 4-0 lead and then held off the Inland Empire 66ers for a 4-3 win to even the South division playoff series at 1-1. The two teams combined for just nine hits and Rancho appeared to have the game will in hand with strong pitching and a pair of two-run innings to build their lead.

But Inland Empire almost spoiled the party with three eighth-inning runs and a ninth-inning rally that loaded the bases on walks and wild pitches. The Quakes got out of it unscathed and now there will be a third game on Friday at 6:30 pm at LoanMart Field.

INLAND EMPIRE – 3
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – 4
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INLAND EMPIRE, MODESTO TAKE GAME 1’S IN PLAYOFFS

The Inland Empire 66ers held serve in game one of the South division playoffs, shutting out the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 3-0 to take a 1-0 lead in the three-game series. Jeremy Arocha was 1-for-2 with a walk and scored two runs for the 66ers and Joel Hurtado allowed just one hit and one walk over seven innings with four strikeouts. The series moves to Rancho Cucamonga for game two on Thursday night at 6:30 pm.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – 0
INLAND EMPIRE – 3
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The Modesto Nuts came back in the late innings and took game one of the North division playoff series with a 6-5 win over the San Jose Giants in 10 innings. Trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Jonny Farmelo tripled in a run to cut the deficit to one, and the comeback was on. Lazaro Montes homered in the bottom of the ninth to tie it up and Colt Emerson walked it off in the 10th with a bases-loaded single. Game two will be in San Jose on Thursday night at 7 pm.

SAN JOSE – 5
MODESTO – 6
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NUTS SHUT OUT GRIZZLIES FOR 16TH STRAIGHT WIN

Modesto @ Fresno Gm 3

The Modesto Nuts shut out the Fresno Grizzlies 8-0 on Thursday night and stretched their lead in the North division to two games with three to play. Logan Evans (W, 1-0) went five innings and gave up three hits and two walks with six strikeouts. Colt Emerson and RJ Schreck each had three hits.

The Grizzlies took the field on Thursday night in second place for the first time in the second half. With their 16th striaght win, the Nuts put them farther back. Fresno needs to win all three of the remaining games over the weekend to make the playoffs. Modesto can clinch with a win on Friday night or either of the games thereafter.

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MODESTO CUTS NORTH LEAD TO 1 WITH SHUTOUT OF INLAND EMPIRE

Inland Empire @ Modesto Gm 5

The Modesto Nuts are on the verge of sweeping two straight six-game series after shutting out Inland Empire 2-0 on Saturday at John Thurman Field. With their 12th straight win, the Nuts have trimmed Fresno’s once-daunting lead in the North division to one game with seven to play. The Grizzlies host Modesto on Tuesday for a season-ending six-game series.

Ryan Hawks shut out the 66ers over the first four innings with no hits or walks allowed while striking out six. Gabriel Sosa (W, 5-2) and two more relievers kept Inland Empire off the board, each allowing just one hit.

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MODESTO WIN STREAK AT 8, NOW 2 BACK OF FRESNO

Inland Empire @ Modesto Gm 1

After splitting their recent series with first-place Fresno and failing to gain any ground in the North division, the Modesto Nuts have cut into the lead the hard way. A six-game sweep on the road at San Jose got them to within three games of the Grizzlies and on Tuesday night they won their eighth straight game, a 5-3 win over Inland Empire at John Thurman Field. That puts the Nuts two games back with 11 games left to play.

Five of those games are with the South division-leading 66ers and the final six games are in Fresno.

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