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Monday, Sep. 07, 2009

Modesto Nuts strike out 12 times, but win where it counts

Defeat High Desert 5-4

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ADELANTO -- The Modesto Nuts struck out 12 times Sunday evening against High Desert pitchers. In contrast, the Mavericks had fewer than half that many whiffs against Modesto's pitchers.

The difference is that Modesto's pitchers pitched best when it counted most.

With the tying run at the plate in the ninth inning, Joey Williamson struck out the last two batters to secure a 5-4 victory for Modesto. The victory could be important for the Nuts California League playoff position.

Modesto entered the game with the same record (73-65) as the Bakersfield Blaze, but because Bakersfield won the season series, it holds the edge for homefield advantage for the North Division playoffs. Like Modesto, the Blaze won Sunday -- beating Rancho Cucamonga, 4-1. That means Modesto no longer controls its own destiny. They must win and Bakersfield must lose for Modesto to regain the homefield advantage.

If Bakersfield wins in today's season finale, Modesto and Bakersfield will open the playoffs at John Thurman Field on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. Game Two and Game Three, if necessary, will be in Bakersfield. If Modesto regains homefield advantage, the first game would be in Bakersfield and the next one or two in Modesto.

Sunday, Modesto took the lead for good with a three-run third inning. After Brian Rike struck out, Warren Schaeffer hit his first home run of the season over the left-field fence.

After Lars Davis grounded out, leading hitter Charles Blackmon came to the plate. Mavericks pitcher Michael Pindea thumped him. Home plate umpire Spencer Flynn tossed Pineda. But that was just the start of the Mavericks' problems.

Maikol Gonzalez was next up, and he reached on an error, allowing Blackmon to get to second. Then Jeffrey Cunningham singled, scoring Blackmon and sending Gonzalez to third. With Scott Beerer at the plate, catcher Travis Scott tried to pick off Gonzalez, but threw the ball into left field. That allowed Gonzalez to score, giving Modesto a 3-2 lead.

Modesto added two in the fifth when Davis greeted reliever Juan Zapata with a single, Gonzalez singled one out later and Cunningham drove in Davis with a third single off Zapata. Beerer hit a grounder into left to score Gonzalez.

That was the end of Modesto's heroics until the ninth, when Williamson struck out the Brent Johnson and Scott -- both swinging -- to end the game.