Nuts’ 2-run lead downsizes to 3-2 loss

The last thing the Modesto Nuts need, and something they must reverse, is the San Jose Giants’ growing confidence at Thurman Field.

The Giants’ recent mastery, punctuated by their 3-2 win Tuesday night, was further illustrated by San Jose relief pitcher Dan Slania.

Cesar Galvez’s sharp grounder up the middle was snared by Slania by a reflex swing of his glove behind his back. An apparent single, a weapon in a one-run game, suddenly was reduced to an eighth-inning out.

That’s how it went for the Nuts after they led 2-0 through four innings.

The San Jose win, its fifth in a row in the Nuts’ ballpark, increases the Giants’ lead in the season series to 11-7. Worse for the Nuts, they’re tied with San Jose for first place in the California League’s North Division second-half race.

Which also means the Giants carry momentum as they seek a series sweep Wednesday night.

“You always want to win these interleague games with both of us at the top,” Nuts third baseman Ryan McMahon said. “They (the Giants) play good baseball. They pitch and execute. We have to string some hits together.”

Modesto failed to add to its early lead, built on RBI hits by McMahon and Michael Benjamin Jr. (3 for 4). In fact, the Nuts managed only three baserunners in the final five innings.

McMahon singled to lead off the ninth and was sacrificed to second by Drew Weeks. San Jose closer Jake Smith finished it, however, by retiring Dillon Thomas on a flyout and striking out Correlle Prime.

Modesto starter Alex Balog, not sharp in recent outings, deserved better than a no-decision this time. He allowed only three hits and induced 10 ground-ball outs in six good innings. His only blemish was a solo homer to Seth Harrison, a 400-foot rip to center, in the fifth.

Balog, from Los Gatos, was locked in a crisp battle of arms with Franklin High of Elk Grove grad Jordan Johnson (1-0). The Giants starter made his Class A debut after he replaced former San Jose star Keury Mella, who was involved in the trade-deadline deal last week that brought Mike Leake to San Francisco from Cincinnati.

Parents and relatives of both Northern California products enjoyed the duel, one that Johnson eventually won. He received some help, however, from the Nuts.

San Jose pushed across two two-out runs in the seventh off Modesto reliever Trent Daniel (3-4). Brian Ragira singled and later scampered home from first base when Harrison’s single skipped off the glove of center fielder Rosell Herrera for an error. Ty Ross doubled to the wall in left for the eventual decisive run.

Notes – Zach Jemiola (4-4) finishes the Modesto homestand Wednesday night against San Jose’s Jason Forjet (4-3). ... The Nuts travel to Bakersfield for a four-game series beginning Thursday night. ... Pitcher Devin Burke returns to Modesto on Wednesday after a very short stay at Triple-A Albuquerque. ...

Ex-Nuts star Jon Gray received the magic phone call and made his major-league debut Tuesday night for the Colorado Rockies, who lost at home to Seattle 10-4. Gray got a no-decision after he yielded three runs (two earned) on five hits, walked two and struck out four. He earned the promotion with three straight sharp outings for Albuquerque, during which he recorded a 2.70 ERA and struck out 38. Colorado, looking to the future and approaching its fifth straight losing season – especially after trading Troy Tulowitzki last week – accelerated its timetable with Gray. He was the third overall pick of the 2013 draft and dazzled that year during his short stay in Modesto: 4-0 with 36 strikeouts in 24 innings and only two earned runs.

This story was originally published August 4, 2015 at 10:49 PM with the headline "Nuts’ 2-run lead downsizes to 3-2 loss."