Nuts blow 3-0 lead in painful loss to San Jose

The Modesto Nuts watched in shock Thursday night as two San Jose Giants scored on a strikeout.

That eighth-inning calamity, the climax to a three-run San Jose rally, was the difference in a painful 5-3 Nuts loss at Thurman Field.

Logan Cozart, summoned in relief of starter Helmis Rodriguez (2-7), struck out Daniel Carbonell for what should have been the inning-ending out. But the ball skipped past catcher Dom Nunez, who retrieved and threw wild down the right-field line. Dylan Davis and Jonah Arenado both raced home for the tiebreaking runs.

Emerson Jimenez (3 for 4) and Forrest Wall singled in the ninth, but San Jose closer Reyes Moronta struck out Drew Weeks in an eight-pitch at-bat to end it.

The loss stung the Nuts because they built a 3-0 lead and seemingly were in charge. Rodriguez went 7  2/3 innings and suffered a hard-luck loss. All runs were charged to Rodriguez but only one was earned.

An error ignited the Giants’ two-run fifth, but Modesto still led 3-2 until the eighth. San Jose drew even on Ronnie Jebavy’s single, a sacrifice by Robbie Garvey and Davis’ RBI single. Arenado’s single preceded the two-run strikeout.

Omar Carrizales and Forrest Wall both sped home on wild pitches by San Jose starter Jordan Johnson to put Modesto in front. Nunez’s fourth homer of the season, a solo shot to right-center in the fourth, increased the lead.

The teams meet in the second game of a four-game series Friday night.

This story was originally published July 28, 2016 at 11:54 PM with the headline "Nuts blow 3-0 lead in painful loss to San Jose."