Rike leads Modesto to 5-3 win versus Blaze

MODESTO - Juan Nicasio allowed four singles, and two runs to the Blaze (17-20) in the first, but the Nuts (21-16) bailed him out with a three hit and four run first of their own en route to a 5-3 win at John Thurman Field on Tuesday night. Nicasio (2-3) lasted seven full innings walked one and struck out five in the win. Michael Main (1-2) allowed the four unearned runs in the first, and an earned run in the fifth in the loss.

The win snapped Nicasio's personal three game losing streak, and it halted Modesto's two game skid. Bakersfield has lost five straight.

Brian Rike put the Nuts up 4-2 in the first with a two run homer to right. He was 2-for-3 with a run and two runs batted in for Modesto. Rike also made a running catch in deep right and a diving catch in shallow right in the Bakersfield second.

Nicasio allowed just three more hits after giving up four singles in the first. The Modesto defense helped him by turning inning ending double plays in the fourth, and sixth.

Adam Jorgenson closed the game, and earned his 12th save in 13 opportunities. Jorgenson blew a save for the first time this season during his last outing in Visalia.

The Blaze committed two errors in the first, and lost their manager to an ejection. Bakersfield manager Bill Haselman came out of the dugout to argue Tom Woodring's call on what looked to be a pop out in foul territory by Jordan Pacheco in the first. Pacheco hit a foul ball straight back to the screen, and catcher Jose Felix caught it for the inning's second out. Woodring waved off the catch, and ruled that the ball hit the back stop screen before Felix caught it. Pacheco was brought back to the plate and singled to right.

Scott Robinson followed Pacheco with a single to right, and a misplay by Mike Bianucci in right allowed both Thomas Field and Pacheco to score. Field reached earlier in the inning on an error at short by Davis Stoneburner.

Rike drove in Robinson with a two run home run to right, and put the Nuts up 4-2. Mdoesto's added it's final run against Main in the fifth with a bases loaded infield hit by Robinson. Robinson was 2-for-4 with two runs batted in for the Nuts.