Modesto Nuts score 2 in eighth to beat Lake Elsinore

The Modesto Nuts will take it.

A leadoff walk, throwing error and passed ball contributed to the Nuts’ two-run rally in the bottom of the eighth inning Sunday night, lifting Modesto to a 5-4 California League victory over the Lake Elsinore Storm in front of an announced crowd of 941 at John Thurman Field.

Lake Elsinore took a 4-3 lead in the top of the eighth on Auston Bousfield’s solo home run.

But Modesto’s Troy Stein led off the bottom half with a walk and moved to third on a single by Emerson Jimenez. Stein then scored on pitcher Eric Yardley’s bad pickoff throw. Jimenez went to second on the error and moved to third on a passed ball. Raimel Tapia then singled in Jimenez with the go-ahead run.

Closer Matt Carasiti finished a 1-2-3 ninth with two strikeouts for his eighth save.

The Nuts took a 2-0 lead in the second, which began with Ryan McMahon reaching base on an error and ending up at third on the play. He scored on a single by Wilfredo Rodriguez, who moved to second on a wild pitch and then scored on Stein’s single.

Lake Elsinore tied it in the top of the fifth, but the Nuts regained the lead on Correlle Prime’s 11th homer of the season leading off the bottom half.

Modesto starter Alex Balog allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings. He struck out three. Matt Pierpont (4-3) allowed the go-ahead homer in his one inning of relief but bagged the win.

The Nuts have won the first two games in the four-game series, which resumes Monday at 7:05 p.m.

This story was originally published July 19, 2015 at 10:31 PM with the headline "Modesto Nuts score 2 in eighth to beat Lake Elsinore."