A Heartbreaking Drop Costs Nuts in 1-0 Defeat

Modesto, CA. - Just a single unearned run spoiled Darren McCaughan's gem in the Modesto Nuts' 1-0 loss against the Visalia Rawhide on Sunday afternoon at John Thurman Field in the rubber game of the three-game series.
McCaughan (L, 3-4) was allowed to start the ninth inning for the Nuts (22-28) and surrendered a lead off single. After a stolen base and a groundout, McCaughan was lifted after a career-high 8 1/3 innings with a runner at third.  
Seth Elledge entered the game and struck out Drew Ellis with the infield drawn in. Pavin Smith cracked a groundball to first. Evan White picked the grounder cleanly and flipped the ball to Elledge who was covering the bag. Elledge dropped the chest-high toss which would have ended the inning allowing the only run to score.
McCaughan was charged with the run while taking the loss despite allowing just four hits with three strikeouts and one walk.
In the ninth, the Nuts had a chance to tie the game when Evan White smacked a triple off the left-field wall to extend his hitting streak to ten games. Tommy Eveld (S, 2/3) struck out the next two hitters to close out the game.
Riley Smith tossed seven shutout innings for the Rawhide (27-23) with seven strikeouts and just two walks.
Wei-Chieh Huang (W, 3-1) tossed a perfect eighth inning out of the Rawhide bullpen.
The Nuts open a four-game series with the Ports in Stockton on Monday night 7:05 p.m. Coverage on ModestoNuts.com will start at 6:50 p.m. Listen live online on your phone, tablet or PC by clicking HERE.