MODESTO 7, STOCKTON 0 – in Modesto, Rob Scahill threw six scoreless innings for his first California League victory, and extended his home-field scoreless streak to 11 innings as the Nuts (8-4) won their fifth straight game in front of 2,962 fans. Brian Rike had two hits and homered for the second straight game, and Thomas Field had a triple and a single. For more on the Modesto Nuts, visit my blog: thehive.modbee.com/thurman. As always, I thank the Purple People for your support.

The game opened in a hard, steady rain and the forecast was for no relief, but the decision was made to try to squeeze in five innings.

Nuts’ starter Kenny Durst was the one who got drenched. The lefty starter allowed six runs, all earned in 1 1/3 innings, on six hits and four walks as he struggled to get a feel of the ball in the wet and cold weather. Durst left with the bases loaded, and reliever Jonnathan Aristil allowed all three runs to score on a walk, a sacrifice fly and single. The game will be resumed and completed on May 21 when the Giants make their next visit to Modesto. That game will be followed by the regularly scheduled game, which will be shortened to seven innings.

COMING UP: The Nuts go on the road for three games at Rancho Cucamonga and four at Inland Empire (San Bernardino) before coming home April 19 to open a homestand with a series against Bakersfield.

Tim Wheeler hit his second home run of the season to give the Nuts a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but Modesto collected only three hits the rest of the way to fall for the second straight night. Rob Scahill allowed only two hits over five innings and Kurt Yacko added two scoreless innings, but the Giants got to Rex Brothers for a triple, double and infield single to score twice in the eighth and added an unearned run in the ninth.

The four-game set is supposed to conclude Sunday afternoon with a 1 p.m. first pitch at John Thurman Field, but a strong storm front is expected to move across Central California, dumping nearly an inch of rain in some areas. Don't hold your breath on Sunday's game happening.

For the rest of my blog, which includes more details on the blown call that dearly cost the Nuts a chance to win on Friday, go to thehive.modbee.com/thurman.

SAN JOSE 4, MODESTO 3 -- The Nuts appeared to have rallied all the way back from a 4-0 deficit when Ryan Peisel scored the tying run on an eighth-inning sacrifice fly, but he was called out on appeal for leaving third base too soon, giving the Giants the victory. Jordan Pacheco had three hits and Thomas Field had his second-straight two-hit game, and once again the Modesto bullpen was stellar, but the Nuts stranded 13 runners to absorb their first loss of the season.

You can read more about the game and the disputed call in the game story at modbee.com. Also, to reach about the injury to left fielder Michael Mitchell, read the blog at thehive.modbee.com/thurman.

April 8, 2010 – Opening Night at John Thurman Field

THE BLOG IS BACK: “Inside the Shell” has been replaced for the 2010 season with “True Tales from Thurman Field.” We’ll still have all the detail about what’s going on with the Modesto Nuts, but we’re adding some of the sights and scenes from the ballpark this season and stories from seasons past, starting below with an Easter Sunday memory from Brandon Hynick. (For Purple Row readers, visit thehive.modbee.com/thurman for the Hynick story.

GAME IN A GRAF: MODESTO 4, SAN JOSE 2 – Juan Nicasio allowed five hits and one earned run in 5 2/3 innings and Tim Wheeler launched a long home run to right as the Nuts opened the season with a victory in front of a sellout crowd of 4,427 fans at John Thurman Field – the second-largest opening night crowd in franchise history. Mike Mitchell, Jordan Pacheco and Thomas Field had two hits apiece, and the Modesto bullpen trio of Steven Dodson, Rex Brothers and Adam Jorgenson allowed only one baserunner.

After a year off, my Modesto Nuts blog will be live for the entire 2010 season at thehive.modbee.com/thurman. The blog will include the daily happenings of the Nuts, including game details, and will be updated after every Modesto Nuts' home game (at least the ones I staff.) I also will incorporate into the blog stories from my 14 years of covering minor league baseball in Modesto, starting tonight with a Thurman Field legend, the debut outing of Brandon Hynick. As always, if you have any questions about what's going on in Modesto, reach me through Facebook or through bvanderbeek@modbee.com.

A rare update to the Modesto Nuts' blog. I just had to share this Manny Ramirez story.

http://thehive.modbee.com/node/14377

I apologize for not keeping you as abreast of happenings with the Modesto Nuts this season, but I have been given additional assignments beyond my coverage of the Nuts and just haven't had the time to devote to this blog.

I do appreciate your support and interest, and anyone having questions about the Nuts still can reach me at  bvanderbeek@modbee.com.

First, I'd like to thank all Rockies fans and the Purple Row for linking to and reading the first few entries of my Modesto Nuts blog "Inside the Shell." I'm told these kinds of specialty blogs generally take a while to develop a following, and this one is off to a good start. I'm sure much of that is due to the exposure on this site.

Along with the blog, which can be found at thehive.modbee.com/insidetheshell, our new Modesto Nuts page modbee.com/nuts is up and running. It's still very much a work in progress, and we'll continue to tweak the layout and content, but the page includes archives of my blog as well as links to all our Nuts' coverage.

Also, we've just added video to the page. The Nuts have two handheld cameras in the stands at every home game, and they've found a way to sync the game action with the play-by-play of ESPN Radio 970's Greg Young and produce a short highlight package. In addition, there are links to short introductory interviews with all Nuts players and coaches that we shot on media day.

Thanks again for your support, and if there's anything you'd like to see in my blog, including any questions you may have of me or any of the young Rockies prospects currently in Modesto, please ask!

Greetings from Northern California!

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