Modesto Nuts fall to Bakersfield

BAKERSFIELD -- Home runs by Travis Mattair and Devin Lohman powered the Bakersfield Blaze to a 5-4 victory over the Modesto Nuts Saturday in the opener of the teams' second round California League playoff series at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

Rafael Ortega had two hits and a run batted in for Modesto, which fell behind early 4-1 before rallying to tie the game on Jayson Langfels' solo home run in the sixth. Theo Bowe's RBI double in the seventh off Modesto reliever Chad Rose scored Joe Terry, who opened the inning with a walk, with the winning run.

Modesto got the potential tying run to third in the ninth, but reliever Carlos Contreras was able to glove Dustin Garneau's liner for the final out.

The teams resume their best-of-five playoff series today at 1:05 p.m.