Nuts weather late Storm rally
A fast start got the Modesto Nuts rolling, but they had to survive a late scare to get a much-needed road victory.
Michael Benjamin’s homer highlighted a four-run first inning Thursday night as the Nuts beat the host Lake Elsinore Storm 7-5 at The Diamond. The big inning proved crucial as the hosts would later have a high-scoring frame of their own.
The first three Modesto batters reached against Storm left-hander Travis Radke (0-3), including second baseman Benjamin, who belted a two-run shot to left for his 11th home run of the season. In all, the Nuts amassed four hits, two walks and one batter was hit by a pitch in a rough inning for Radke.
Conversely, Nuts righty Konner Wade (8-8) had a solid outing. He scattered eight hits in 6 2/3 innings, allowing just one run in the sixth inning when the Storm strung together three consecutive singles with one out. The Storm had a potential run erased at the plate when Fernando Perez hit Lake Elsinore’s fourth single in a row.
Nuts third baseman Ryan McMahon hit a solo home run in the fifth inning, then Modesto manufactured two runs in the eighth to build a 7-1 lead.
Jacob Newberry shut down the Storm in 1 1/3 innings of relief, but things got interesting in the ninth inning.
With Modesto holding a six-run cushion, Rayan Gonzalez entered to put the game to bed.
Lake Elsinore had other ideas.
The Storm tapped Gonzalez for three hits, a walk and a run in two-thirds of an inning, forcing the Nuts to bring in Matt Carasiti. Modesto’s closer didn’t fare well upon entry, allowing back-to-back singles that led to three Storm runners touching home. All runs were charged to Gonzalez.
Carasiti ended it by forcing Perez to ground out to earn his 20th save of the season.
Despite the win, the Nuts weren’t able to gain ground on San Jose or Visalia, which both won Thursday. That leaves Modesto five games back in the playoff race.
Modesto opens its final homestand of the season Friday with a three-game series against Visalia. They end the season with three games in San Jose and a four-game set in Stockton.
This story was originally published August 27, 2015 at 11:06 PM with the headline "Nuts weather late Storm rally."