California League Championship series extended; Nuts will host Storm on Wednesday

The 2024 California League Championship Series will have a Game 3 after the defending champion Modesto Nuts could not finish out the series sweep at home.

After the Nuts took Game 1 10-8 on the road Sunday, the Lake Elsinore Storm scored nine runs Tuesday evening in Modesto to take Game 2 9-2, evening the best-of-three series.

The Storm did most of its damage in the third inning. It sent 10 batters to the plate and scored six runs to take a 6-0 lead in the top half of the inning. The Nuts answered with an RBI single from second baseman Charlie Pagliarini, the third batter of the inning. He drove in right fielder Curtis Washington Jr., who led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a groundout.

The 6-1 Storm lead remained until the bottom of the eighth. Catcher Josh Caron sent a solo home run over the left center field wall, making it a 6-2 game, but that is as close as the Nuts would get. In the top of the ninth, Lake Elsinore added three insurance runs and got out of the bottom half without giving up a run. The Nuts drew back-to-back walks to lead off the inning, but the next three batters were retired.

The Nuts finished the night with seven total hits, led by Caron, who homered and singled. Tai Peete added a double and Pagliarini, Milkar Perez, Washington Jr. and Carter Dorighi each singled.

Game 3 is Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. at John Thurman Field. Gates open at 6 p.m.

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