Weird finish in 10th costs Modesto Nuts at Visalia

The Modesto Nuts’ frustration in extra-inning games continued in a weird finish at Visalia on Tuesday night.

The Rawhide won 5-4 in 10 innings when Modesto catcher Dom Nunez was ruled not to have his foot on home plate during a bases-loaded force play. Henry Castillo, who led off the inning with a double off reliever Logan Cozart (0-2), scored the winning run.

Modesto (8-10), 1-4 in extra-inning games during the season’s first month, fell four games behind Visalia (12-6) in the California League’s North Division.

Castillo drove an 0-2 pitch down the right-field line to begin the 10th and advanced on Dawel Lugo’s infield hit and an intentional walk. Victor Reyes’ grounder to Forrest Wall, the Nuts’ second baseman, appeared to produce a force at home for the second out, but the play resulted in cheers from 1,245 at Recreation Park.

The Nuts scored all their runs in the fifth, courtesy of two-run homers by Wall and Collin Ferguson, to take a 4-1 lead. Shane Hoelscher singled to start the big inning.

Visalia answered with three runs, capped by Rudy Flores’ two-run shot off starter Sam Howard, to tie 4-4.

Modesto and Visalia played Wednesday night and conclude the three-game series Thursday at 7 p.m.

This story was originally published April 26, 2016 at 9:44 PM with the headline "Weird finish in 10th costs Modesto Nuts at Visalia."