Nuts Edge Giants in Extra-Innings Thriller
April 24, 2013 - California League (CalL1) - Modesto Nuts News Release
SAN JOSE, CA (April 23rd, 2013) -- After four hours and 31 minutes, Modesto was finally able to put the Giants away as reliever Geoff Parker induced a game-ending double play to seal a 6-5 Nuts victory in 13 innings at Municipal Stadium.
Modesto (9-10) never trailed in the contest, but each time they took the lead the Giants (13-6) had an answer until the Nuts finally pulled away for good. In the top of the 13th, Harold Riggins led off with a walk against Bryce Bandilla (0-1), advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored the go-ahead run as an infield hit from Juan Crousset coupled with an error by Giants second-baseman Bobby Haney allowed him to cross the plate.
San Jose put a man on in the bottom of the 13th against Parker (1-1), but the righty got Mac Williamson to ground to third to start a game-ending 5-4-3 double play. Parker, who got the win, also induced a big double play in the 12th after taking over for Will Rankin with one out in the inning.
The Nuts led on five different occasions, including once during extra frames. Riggins led off the top of the 10th with a titanic home run to dead-center, his first of the season to put the Nuts in front, 5-4. But an error by Taylor Featherston in the bottom of the 10th opened the door for the Giants, and Kelby Tomlinson delivered a 2-out RBI single against Ken Roberts to re-tie the game at five.
Modesto used seven different pitchers in the game, starting with righty Dan Winkler, who was superb in his fourth outing of the season. Winkler limited the Giants to only on earned run on five singles in 6 2/3 innings, walking one and striking out a career-high of nine.
With the game tied 2-2 in the seventh, Juan Crousset put Modesto ahead with an RBI double against reliever Austin Fleet. The Nuts opened the eighth with three straight hits against Josh Osich, including an RBI double by Riggins to put Modesto up by their largest margin, 4-2. Modesto had Osich on the ropes with two in scoring position and no one out, but the lefty rallied to strike out the side to minimize the damage.
Modesto's inability to pull away in the top of the eighth allowed the Giants to hang in the game, and they plated two runs in the bottom of the inning to knot the game at four. After striking out the first two batters of the inning, Nelson Gonzalez ran into trouble by giving up a single and an RBI double to Angel Villalona. Two batters later, Haney blooped a double into center-field against Scott Oberg to make it 4-4.
Both teams went quietly in the ninth, before the extra-innings drama ensued.
Riggins finished with a season best 3-for-5 effort, driving in two runs, and scoring twice, and Juan Crousset was 3-for-5 as well to lead the Nuts attack.
Tonight's game was the first of six in a row between the two clubs, starting with a three-game series in San Jose. Game two at Municipal Stadium is set for Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. RHP Tyler Gagnon (0-1, 6.00) will start for Modesto, opposite LHP Edwin Escobar (0-0, 1.84) for the Giants. You can listen to all of the action online at ModestoNuts.com, with Alex Margulies providing the call.
• Discuss this story on the California League message board...
California League Stories from April 24, 2013
- Stockton Stumbles Again in 10-4 Loss - Stockton Ports
- Sleeved Blanket Giveaway this Saturday - Lancaster JetHawks
- Nuts Edge Giants in Extra-Innings Thriller - Modesto Nuts
- Rawhide Roll Past Ports 12-1 - Stockton Ports
- Giants Rally Late, But Fall in 13 Innings to Modesto - San Jose Giants
- Rawhide Steamroll Ports 12-1 - Visalia Rawhide
- Quakes Dip Below .500 with Loss to 66ers - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Borenstein Drops Bomb on Quakes in 7-5 Win - Inland Empire 66ers
- No Long Wait for Win in Lake Elsinore - Lancaster JetHawks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.