Nuts allow 10th-inning run and fall to Rancho Cucamonga

The Modesto Nuts logged their 16th extra-inning game, the most in the California League, Thursday night. Once again, the result was not to their liking.

Erick Mejia, Rancho Cucamonga’s fleet leadoff man, walked with two out in the 10th and scored on Will Smith’s bloop double to shallow left. That sent the Nuts to a 3-2 loss, their third in the four-game series at Thurman Field.

Modesto, 5-11 after the ninth inning this season, did not seriously threaten in its half of the 10th.

The Nuts wasted a quality start by Helmis Rodriguez, who allowed only three hits – one of them a solo homer by Yusniel Diaz – and struck out four in seven innings. Logan Cozart (1-5) gave up the eventual winning run.

The Nuts broke open a scoreless game in the sixth when Ryan Stephens singled, advanced on Emerson Jimenez’s sacrifice and scored on Forrest Wall’s infield hit.

Rancho Cucamonga took a 2-1 lead in the ninth on Diaz’s RBI single, but Modesto answered when Shane Hoelscher singled home Wall. The Quakes and the Nuts will finish the season with four games at Rancho Cucamonga on Sept. 2-5.

Modesto’s seven-game homestand continues with the start of a three-game series against the Visalia Rawhide on Friday night.

This story was originally published August 19, 2016 at 12:20 AM with the headline "Nuts allow 10th-inning run and fall to Rancho Cucamonga."