Modesto drops second consecutive one-run decision to Bakersfield

The Modesto Nuts were shut down by Bakersfield pitching for the second consecutive night, falling to the Blaze 3-2 in a California League contest Friday at John Thurman Field.

Bakersfield’s Tyler Pike took a perfect game into the fifth inning before allowing a two-out triple to designated hitter Ashley Graeter and then an RBI single to catcher Troy Stein that made it a 3-1 contest.

Pike (2-3) ran out of gas in the seventh and was pulled after issuing three walks to load the bases. Rafael Pineda got the call from the bullpen, and Nuts shortstop Emerson Jimenez promptly laced a single to right that appeared to tie the score. Rosell Herrera trotted home from third to make it 3-2, but Stein was gunned down at the plate trying to score from second.

Pike, who allowed just three hits and struck out 10 in 62/3 innings, outpitched the Nuts’ Alex Balog. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound right-hander scattered seven hits and a walk over six innings, and struck out four.

Blaze shortstop Rayder Ascanio delivered a sacrifice fly in the second, and Bakersfield added two runs in the fifth on an RBI single by Tim Lopes and a wild pitch.

The 3-2 loss came after a 3-2 setback Thursday night, when Dan Altavilla outdueled Antonio Senzatela, striking out eight and allowing one run on five hits in seven innings.

In the final two games of the series, the Nuts fanned a total of 25 times.

Modesto relievers Devin Burke and Matt Pierpont faced the minimum nine batters over the final three innings on Friday, combining for four strikeouts.

The Nuts will head to Adelanto to face the High Desert Mavericks (Rangers) in a three-game series in Adelanto starting Saturday. Coverage on ModestoNuts.com will start at 7 p.m.

This story was originally published July 3, 2015 at 10:26 PM with the headline "Modesto drops second consecutive one-run decision to Bakersfield."