Manteca scored three times each with two outs on Friday while getting gutsy pitching efforts from Cameron Jimenez and Jimmy Burns in a 3-1 win over visiting Oakdale that has the Buffaloes leading the pack in a heated race for the Valley Oak League title.

Taking the rubber game gives Manteca (9-3, 16-4 overall) the head-to-head tiebreaking advantage over the Mustangs (8-4, 11-8) as well as a one-game lead, but it’s not getting any easier — the Buffs are going from one defending VOL co-champion to another, with Central Catholic next on the schedule.

“I just feel like we’ve been grinding the whole year,” Manteca coach Mark Ruiz said. “We feel like we have talent on this team, and honestly, I don’t’ think it’s clicked all the way yet. We’re still kind of working through some things, but they grind. They keep battling; they never back down from anything. It doesn’t matter the situation.”

Neither team could get the bats going and had to take advantage of their few opportunities from errors, walks and hit batters. Manteca plated the winning and insurance runs on throwing errors while stealing third base.

In the fifth inning, Nate Slikker drew a two-out walk with a full count and later stole second. He then plated the go-ahead run after stealing third, sprinting home when the pick-off throw skipped past third baseman Gavin Wyatt. The Buffaloes had a chance to break it open but could not capitalize after Jimenez (hit by pitch), Caleb Ortega (walked) and Paul Smith (hit by pitch) reached to load the bases.

Chris Chavez gave the Buffaloes some breathing room with his run in the sixth, as he hit a two-out single, stole second and swiped third before scooting home on another throwing error.

“We just want to be aggressive whenever we can,” Ruiz said. “If we have an opportunity, we’re going to try to be aggressive. Whatever play call is on, the guys are able to do it and do it at a high level.”

Still recovering from an illness, Jimenez pitched the first four innings (one hit, two strikeouts, two hit batters) and gave himself the lead with an RBI single in the third inning. Jace Quitasol was hit by a two-strike pitch with two outs, and Slikker walked ahead of Jimenez’s knock.

“It was such a big moment, and I like being in that (situation),” Jimenez said. “I just feel my body filling up with the adrenaline, and when I was able to get that hit, it really fired us up.”

“I appreciate the trust I have from my coaches,” Burns said. “I came over here from Sierra betting on myself and my pitching ability, and it’s paying off. I’m thankful for pitching in this game.”

He gave up an unearned run in the top of the fifth, as Wyatt reached on a fielding error and scored on Griffin Costa’s game-tying double.

Burns went on to retire the next seven batters, striking out two. He and Jimenez combined for the three-hitter. Jordan Haver went the distance for Oakdale and also gave up just three hits, but he did walk four and hit three.

“Cam didn’t have his best stuff today; he’s a little under the weather, but he battled through it really well,” Ruiz said. “Jimmy came in as one of our transfers and we have a lot of confidence in him. He’s practicing hard every day, so we know what he has, he just hasn’t been able to show it until now.”

Manteca begins its three-game set with Central Catholic (8-3, 12-5) at home next Monday.

East Union 6, Sierra 1

A pair of sophomores helped visiting East Union (4-5 VOL, 10-9 overall) win this pivotal best-of-three series.

Joe Alvarez pitched a one-hitter for the Lancers and was 2-for-3 at the plate. Peyton Heath plated three runs and finished 3-for-4 with two steals.

Jackson Fay (run, steal) and Kirk Simoni (double, two RBIs, run) both went 2-for-4. Blake Mount added an RBI double and a run, while Randy Martinez legged out a triple.

Rudy Barney knocked in Sierra’s lone run with a double that brought Ricardo Anaya home. That was all the Timberwolves (3-8, 5-11) could muster, as Alvarez struck out seven against just two walks and a hit batter.

East Union hosts Mountain House next Monday to begin its next VOL series, while Sierra takes on Patterson at home.