San Jose thwarts Modesto’s bid for 3-game streak with HR in 11th

San Jose’s Brandon Bednar homered in the top of the 11th inning and flame-throwing Rodolfo Martinez worked out of a jam in the bottom of the frame as the Giants halted the Modesto Nuts’ modest two-game winning streak 2-1 Sunday afternoon at John Thurman Field.

The Nuts (22-39) were vying for their first three-game winning streak of the season. They had won back-to-back games for the first time since May 15-16.

Modesto took the lead in the third inning when Luis Jean slapped a one-out single to the left side of the infield, advanced to second on a ground out, stole third and then scampered home when the throw to third was wild.

But Nuts starter Yency Almonte couldn’t come back with a shut-down inning.

Ronnie Jebavy doubled to lead off the top of the fourth, but Almonte struck out the next two batters and looked as though he might escape unscathed.

But Chris Shaw singled over the head of Jean at shortstop to plate Jebavy and tie the score 1-1.

That remained the score for the next six innings, as San Jose’s San Coonrod and Almonte matched each other zero for zero.

Coonrod threw eight innings, allowing five hits and an unearned run and striking out eight. Almonte gave up three hits and one earned run and fanned eight.

Giants reliever Pat Young, the eventual winning pitcher, and Modesto’s Jerry Vasto also got in on the act.

Young allowed a hit and struck out three in two innings, and Vasto gave up one hit and struck out three in an inning.

Even Troy Neiman, who took the loss, looked sharp. After giving up a single to the first hitter he faced, Neiman retired the next five before Bednar hit the first pitch he saw over the left-center-field wall.

The Nuts will begin a four-game series in Stockton on Monday, when the teams will play a doubleheader that includes the makeup of an April 9 rainout.

After the Stockton series, Modesto will return home Thursday to conclude the season’s first half with four games against Inland Empire.

After breaking for the California League vs. Carolina League All-Star Game in Lake Elsinore on June 21, the Nuts will begin second-half play June 23 in Bakersfield.

This story was originally published June 12, 2016 at 6:10 PM with the headline "San Jose thwarts Modesto’s bid for 3-game streak with HR in 11th."