A stellar pitching duel in Visalia saw Modesto’s Anthony Senzatela throw eight shutout innings at the Rawhide as the Nuts won a 4-3 decision, forging a tie atop the North Division. Senzatela (7-5), the Rockies’ #11 prospect, struck out seven and allowed five hits without a walk to earn the victory, which gave the Nuts and Rawhide identical 18-7 records in the second-half standings.
Visalia’s Anthony Banda (L, 6-8) was nearly as good, going 6 1/3 and allowing just one run on six hits with a walk and nine strikeouts. But he gave up a seventh-inning run by allowing a pair of one-0ut singles to start a rally that reliever Bud Jeter couldn’t quell.
The Nuts ultimately got three singles in the inning and an RBI groundout by Wilson Soriano that provided all the margin they would need. The visitors tacked on three more in the top of the ninth, roughing up Johnny Shuttlesworth with three hits and a walk, to provide the winning margin.
The Visalia Rawhide are first-half champions, guaranteeing them not only a playoff spot but also a first-round bye. A juggernaut all season long, the Rawhide have now lost three straight.
Modesto finished the first half at 33-37, nine games behind the first-place Rawhide (42-28). After a 2014 season to forget, the Nuts are now immersed in a playoff race, either for a second-half championship or in the race for the best record of a non-division winner.
FRIDAY SCOREBOARD
STOCKTON 5, LANCASTER 4
HIGH DESERT 9, LAKE ELSINORE 7
MODESTO 4, VISALIA 0
RANCHO CUCAMONGA 12, INLAND EMPIRE 2
SAN JOSE 2, BAKERSFIELD 1
HEAT CHECK
RAIMEL TAPIA, MODESTO – The Rockies’ #6 prospect saw his hitting streak end at 10 on Monday, but he then went 4-for-9 over his next two games. Tonight’s 1-for-5 effort leaves the Nuts’ leadoff hitter at .325 on the season.
KODY EAVES, INLAND EMPIRE – Eaves has gone 9-for-25 over his last six games, including a 3-homer/6-RBI effort on Wednesday. MLB.com has Kody Eaves ranked #25 among Angels prospects.
LEWIS BRINSON, HIGH DESERT – The Texas Rangers’ #6 prospect has gone 7-for-14 over his last four games and now has his slash line up to .310/.399/.569. Brinson was a first-round draft pick in 2012.
