Nuts win 10-8, magic number down to one
Coupled by a 10-6 loss by Visalia in Bakersfield, Modesto's magic number to clinch a playoff spot has been reduced to just one. The Nuts will clinch with a win on Wednesday night or a loss by the Rawhide. Modesto holds a four game lead on the Giants in the North Division second-half race, while Visalia slides to six back.
After an RBI double by Michael Gilmartin gave the Ports an 8-7 lead in the top of the eighth inning, Modesto fought back with three runs to pull ahead for good in the bottom of the inning against reliever Jon Joseph. Helder Velazquez led off with a double, was bunted the third by Joey Wong, and scored on a game-tying single from Rafael Ortega. After Stockton's fourth error of the night put runners at the corners, Delta Cleary Jr. delivered a two-run double to put the Nuts on top 10-8.
Geoff Parker (1-0) relieved Nick Schnaitmann after he gave up the double to Gilmartin in the eighth and retired the final six batters in order to pick up his first win with the team. Johnson (0-1) took the loss.
Stockton took the game's first lead with a solo home run from Myrio Richard in the top of the first inning against Kennil Gomez. Modesto countered with four runs in the first, and two in the second against Max Perlman to take a 6-1 lead. Kyle Parker hit a 3-run double in the first, and drove in a run with a single in the second.
Gomez ran into trouble in the third, and did not escape the inning after surrendering four earned runs. He allowed the first five batters to reach before Jayson Langfels made a spectacular diving stop at third to start a 5-4-3 double play. Craig Bennigson took over and got the Nuts through the rest of the inning, and cruised through three more to keep Modesto in front, 6-5.
Adames drove in his second run of the game with a two-out RBI single in the sixth against Blake Treinan to extend Modesto's lead to 7-5. But Tony Thompson hit a two-run homer against Schnaitmann with two outs in the seventh to tie the game 7-7. Dusty Robinson opened the eighth with a single against the righty, with Gilmartin's double putting the Ports on top for the second time, 8-7.
Modesto will go for the series win on Wednesday night to clinch a spot in the Cal League Playoffs for the 12th time in 14th years. In 2011, Modesto won the second half with a record of 41-29, and was eliminated by Stockton in the first-round mini-series, two games to one. First pitch tomorrow night is set for 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available and can be purchased online at ModestoNuts.com, or by calling (209) 572-HITS.