Modesto Nuts start season by handing out rings, winning first home series
Fans lined up outside John Thurman Field, home of the Modesto Nuts, more than two hours before Saturday's 6:40 scheduled first pitch, hoping to receive a piece of history.
The second game of the Nuts' season-opening home series against the San Jose Giants was ring night. The Nuts partnered with Valley First Credit Union to provide replica 2024 California League championship rings to the first 500 fans to receive vouchers upon entry.
The Nuts — the Seattle Mariners Single-A affiliate — say the 2024 replica is closer than any other championship clone to its corresponding ring handed out to the players and staff. It includes the years of other championships, including Nuts titles won in 2004, 2017, 2023 and 2024. The top is ruby red with an embossed 'M' logo. The words 'Back-2-Back' are on one side, denoting the 2023 and 2024 championships.
'I think it's great,' said Nuts fan Jaime Cox, a Nuts season-ticket holder for 20 seasons. 'I have a (replica) ring from 2017, last year and then again this year. It's much nicer than last year. They did a really good job on it.'
It was the second of three straight days of fan engagement for the Nuts' first home series of the year. Friday, not only were fans treated to a 6-3 Nuts win, but the ballpark hosted Cancer Awareness Night. Sutter Health provided information about cancer and support groups and helped raise funds for cancer patient programs. Sunday, the Nuts continued another partnership, honoring a decades-long tradition by hosting the reading program, which has been in Stanislaus County since 2002.
'We talk a lot about focusing on the process and how that's going to lead to good results,' said first-year manager Luis Caballero, 'and obviously you want those results to show as soon as possible. Just getting that first win was so emotional.'
On a team full of Low-A first-timers, the returners got things underway in the season opener. Walter Ford got the ball first, starting the game after posting a 1-2 record with 32 strikeouts in 38.2 innings pitched in 2024. He went 4.2 innings Friday evening, striking out three and giving up three earned runs. Second-year Nuts pitcher Adrian Quintana was credited with the win after coming in as one of three arms out of the bullpen.
Two-time California League champion with the Nuts Curtis Washington Jr. recorded Modesto's only extra-base hit, a double in the bottom of the third with a runner on first, putting a pair of runners in scoring position. In the next at bat, Felnin Celesten drove in one of his two RBI with a single to left field.
That hit was part of an outstanding, highly anticipated debut for Celesten, the No. 5 prospect in the Mariners organization. The 19-year-old has battled through injuries during his time in rookie ball but collected two hits in four at bats, two RBI and a run.
'He's been excited just at the fact that he gets to play at the affiliate this year,' Caballero said. 'That's all he wanted to do. He's excited about playing in front of fans. ... The whole atmosphere gets him going.'
The Nuts secured the series win Saturday night in dramatic fashion. With two outs and a 1-2 count, Matthew Ellis drilled an inside pitch over the right field fence for a no-doubt walk-off, two-run home run as John Thurman Field erupted.
It provided the perfect inning to a close contest that looked like it would go the Giants' way. After the Giants jumped on starting pitcher in the first inning, opening with a leadoff single and RBI single, Celesten drove in the equalizer in the bottom of the third, scoring Dervy Ventura, who walked to lead off the inning.
The Giants scored a run in the top of the eighth and kept the Nuts off the board in the bottom half of the inning. In the bottom of the ninth, the first two batters grounded out. Cesare Quintas was hit by a pitch to keep the inning alive. Ellis took a first-pitch ball, got two called strikes and fouled a pitch off before the game-winning blast.
The series ends Sunday at home before the Nuts travel to Lake Elsinore for a six-game set. They return to John Thurman Field April 15-20 against the Inland Empire 66ers.
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