Nutty 9th in Modesto; Rancho takes no-hitter deep into game

When your team’s entering the bottom of the 9th with an 8-2 lead, you might feel pretty secure about a win.

But this is baseball and nothing is secure until the final pitch is thrown and the last out is recorded.

This was the tale of the Lancaster JetHawks’ at John Thurman Field on Wednesday night. Though the Modesto Nuts scored first in the 2nd inning, the JetHawks broke the game open in the 5th and scored seven runs between the 3rd and 5th innings.

In the last of the 9th, however, Lancaster had some trouble getting their first out. Four runs came across before the first out was recorded on a fielder’s choice — which was considered questionable by Modesto. Before Tyler Massey was able to take his at-bat, two members of the Nuts had been ejected.

The JetHawks’ Kenny Long came in to face the final two batters of the game, striking both out to secure the 8-6 win for Lancaster.

Rancho Cucamonga takes combined no-hitter into 7th

Most were in town to see newly signed Dodgers reliever Brian Wilson pitch for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, but those who stuck around after Wilson’s one inning of work were in for a treat.

Freddie Cabrera came in to throw five innings after Wilson, allowing no hits against the Lake Elsinore Storm, but one unearned run scored in the top of the 3rd because of a fielding error by Casio Grider.

Into the 7th, Edwin Carl came in to relieve Cabrera and struck out the first batter he faced. However, Dane Phillips hit a double in the next at-bat, promptly ending the combined no-hit bid.

Lake Elsinore would go on to take the lead in the 8th, but it didn’t last long as the Quakes came back to rally in the bottom of the 8th and would go on to win 4-3.