Modesto Nuts fall again to Visalia

The Modesto Nuts are at that point in the season when teams need to be finding ways to win. Instead, they’re finding ways to lose.

One night after Modesto’s pitching staff gave up 23 hits and the defense committed five errors, which contributed to five unearned runs in a 13-12 loss to Visalia in 10 innings, Nuts starter Kyle Freeland allowed four home runs Tuesday night in a 6-4 loss to the host Rawhide in front of an announced crowd of 910 at Recreation Park.

Modesto’s second consecutive loss in the series dropped the Nuts three games behind the California League’s North Division-leading Rawhide with 19 games remaining. Visalia also won the first-half title. The Nuts maintained a one-game edge over Stockton in the wild-card race. The Ports lost to San Jose 3-0 on Tuesday night. The Giants trail Modesto by two games in the wild-card chase.

Visalia got to Freeland in the first inning on Daniel Palka’s two-run homer, his 23rd this season, but the Nuts scored three runs in the top of the second. Three consecutive singles, starting with Drew Weeks’ bunt, loaded the bases. With two outs, Raimel Tapia singled home Weeks and Correlle Prime, then Wilson Soriano singled in Wilfredo Rodriguez.

Tied 3-3 in the sixth, Modesto pulled ahead as Rosell Herrera doubled and scored on a throwing error on Weeks’ bunt.

But Visalia’s Kevin Cron hit a two-run homer – his 25th – in the bottom half, and the Rawhide’s Tyler Baker led off the seventh with a bomb.

The Nuts will try to salvage the final game of the series Wednesday with first pitch at 7:05 p.m. The Nuts then return to Modesto to face Stockton on Thursday in the first game of a four-game series.

Cal League awards Balog – Nuts right-hander Alex Balog was named Pitcher of the Week in the California League after holding Bakersfield hitless for 72/3 innings Saturday. Balog was lifted for a reliever after reaching his maximum pitch count, which was stretched from 95 to 105 as he continued to chase the no-hitter. Balog walked three, hit one and struck out seven.

This story was originally published August 18, 2015 at 10:40 PM with the headline "Modesto Nuts fall again to Visalia."