The Modesto Nuts finally lost a game after winning 16 games in a row during August and September. This helped them earn a playoff spot in the California League and they went up against the San Jose Giants for a best-of-three series. Michael Morales got the start for the Nuts but only went three innings and allowed two runs. However the Nuts would tag Giants starter Manuel Mercedes for three runs over 4.1 innings and tie the game after five innings.
The Giants would have a two run lead heading to the bottom of the eighth inning. In the eighth recent draft pick Jonny Farmelo would triple in Brock Rodden to bring the Nuts within one. It was Farmelo’s first professional game and his second career hit and first career extra base hit.
Then in the bottom of the ninth inning, still trailing by one run, Jason Churchill’s number 11 prospect Lazaro Montes tied the game with a solo home run to center field. This blast from the 18-year-old lefty would send the game to extra innings.
Bottom 10:
Giants- 5
Nuts -5How did we get to extras???
LAZAROOOOOO
pic.twitter.com/OMUEk6rhJa— Modesto Nuts (@ModestoNuts) September 13, 2023
Then in the bottom of the tenth inning the Nuts would load the bases and with two outs Churchill’s number three prospect Colt Emerson came through with the winning hit to walk-off game one for the Nuts.
Colt in the CLUTCH!
First-round pick @Colt_emerson walks it off, and the @ModestoNuts take Game 1 of the California League Division Series! #SeaUsRise pic.twitter.com/JlQhyC2cPd
— Mariners Player Development (@MsPlayerDev) September 13, 2023
After that thrilling victory, the Nuts would go on to dominate in game two of their playoff series and beat San Jose 13-4 behind three hits from Colt Emerson and five hits from Michael Arroyo.
It is exciting to see so many talented young players playing together and celebrating their wins and getting to experience playoff games in the Minor Leagues, especially when it includes so many top prospects in the Seattle Mariners organization.
Modesto Nuts (A) – California League
| RANK | PLAYER | POS | STATS |
| 3 | Colt Emerson | SS | .374/.496/.550, 2 HR, 15% BB, 17.5% K |
| 4 | Michael Arroyo | SS | .255/.403/.400, 3 HR, 13.3% BB, 19.4% K |
| 8 | Tai Peete | SS | .283/.349/.404, 2 HR, 9.7% BB, 27.5% K |
| 11 | Lazaro Montes | OF | .303/.440/.560, 13 HR, 17.9% BB, 25.2% K |
| 18 | Michael Morales | RHP | 22 GS, 101.1 IP, 4.53 ERA, 24.4% K, 9.2% BB |
| 28 | Milkar Perez | 3B | .273/.380/.370, 1 HR, 13.1% BB, 24.3% K |
| 35 | Tyler Gough | RHP | 10 G, 9 GS, 30 IP, 5.70 ERA, 18% K, 11.3% BB |
Everett AquaSox (A+) — Northwest League
| RANK | PLAYER | POS | STATS |
| 1 | Cole Young | SS | .277/.399/.449, 11 HR, 14.5% BB, 14.9% K |
| 2 | Harry Ford | C | .257/.410/.430, 15 HR, 18.3% BB, 19.4% K |
| 5 | Gabriel Gonzalez | OF | .298/.361/.476, 18 HR 6.7% BB, 16.6% K |
| 24 | Axel Sanchez | SS | .199/.285/.353, 7 HR, 8.5% BB, 29.2% K |
| 30 | Hogan Windish | 2B | .270/.372/.506, 22 HR, 12.2% BB, 30.8% K |
Arkansas Travelers (AA) – Texas League
| RANK | PLAYER | POS | STATS |
| 10 | Tyler Locklear | 1B | .285/.402/.500, 13 HR, 12.7% BB, 21.1% K |
| 13 | Jonatan Clase | OF | .241/.354/.450, 20 HR, 13.8% BB, 27.9% K |
| 15 | Prelander Berroa | RHP | 42 G, 5 GS, 64.1 IP, 2.94 ERA, 36.9% K, 14.4% BB |
| 27 | Alberto Rodriguez | OF | .304/.381/.511, 14 HR, 9.5% BB, 23.1% K |
| 32 | Robert Perez Jr. | 1B | .242/.324/.417, 17 HR, 7.9% BB, 29.8% K |
| 38 | Ty Adcock | RHP | 19 G, 20.2 IP, 1.74 ERA, 29.3% K, 6.7% BB |
| 40 | Travis Kuhn | RHP | 48 G, 53.2 IP, 3.19 ERA, 21.8% K, 9.8% BB |
Tacoma Rainiers (AAA) – Pacific Coast League
| RANK | PLAYER | POS | STATS |
| 9 | Ryan Bliss | 2B | .307/.379/.523, 20 HR, 9% BB, 18.7% K |
| 22 | Zach DeLoach | OF | .281/.388/.477, 21 HR, 14.1% BB, 28% K |
| 26 | Juan Then | RHP | 32 G, 35.1 IP, 7.90 ERA, 15.7% K, 12.9% BB |
| 29 | Eduard Bazardo | RHP | 37 G, 47.2 IP, 3.21 ERA, 28.9% K, 8% BB |
AquaSox Tie Playoff Series behind Offensive Outburst
The Everett AquaSox lost game one of their playoff series to the Vancouver Canadians earlier this week three to nothing after not being able to get their offense going against former Mariners prospect Adam Macko. Game two would be a different story.
In game two, Ben Ramirez would hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to give the Aquasox the lead early. Then they would get one run in the second inning before putting the game out of reach in the third. In the bottom of the third inning Victor Labrada would hit a grand slam to put Everett ahead 10-0.
Raul Alcantra would go five shutout innings for Everett and hand the game over to the bullpen to finish the shutout. The teams are traveling to Vancouver for the rest of the best-of-five series tied at one game apiece.
Mariners Prospects In the News
MLB Pipeline would like to see Mariners catching prospect Harry Ford in the Arizona Fall League.
Here is a list of top prospects playing in MiLB playoff games around the country this month, including who is in for the Seattle Mariners organization.
Seattle selected the contract of catcher Luis Torrens from the minor leagues after recently signing him to a minor league contract.
Jonny Farmelo made his debut for the Modesto Nuts in game one of their playoff series and collected his first career hit.
Curtis Christianson
Curtis Christianson is the Athletic Director at Concordia Christian Academy. He also works in the Tacoma Rainiers clubhouse during the baseball season.
