Thursday, Sep. 03, 2009

Repec's slam lifts Modesto to 6-5 victory

LAKE ELSINORE — The Modesto Nuts needed 135 games to hit their first grand slam of the season — perfect timing for the team and Matt Repec.

Repec's fourth-inning slam tied the game, and the Nuts scored twice in the seventh inning to defeat Lake Elsinore 6-5 and maintain their lead over Bakersfield in the race for the homefield advantage in the first round of the California League's North Division playoffs.

Even with Repec's slam, the Nuts trailed 5-4 entering the seventh before Hector Gomez singled home the tying run and Jeff Cunningham followed with a sacrifice fly.

Joey Williamson (13-3) worked two innings to get the win, while Craig Baker got the final four outs for his league-best 33rd save. Modesto's magic number to clinch the No. 2 seed is four, with five games remaining.