The Fresno Grizzlies (74-63) played their first extra inning game since June 26 on Wednesday night at Southwest University Park, a 9-8 loss to the El Paso Chihuahuas (70-67) in 14 innings. It was just the sixth extra inning game Fresno has played this season, the fourth on the road,
The Fresno Grizzlies (74-63) played their first extra inning game since June 26 on Wednesday night at Southwest University Park, a 9-8 loss to the El Paso Chihuahuas (70-67) in 14 innings. It was just the sixth extra inning game Fresno has played this season, the fourth on the road, and the first game to progress further than the 10th inning.
The Chihuahuas were first on the board when Christian Villanueva (2-for-7) hit a two-run double in the third. The Grizzlies were able to cut the lead in the fourth when Tyler White (3-for-6) got on with a base hit and scored on a double play ball. El Paso got the run back in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-1 lead on a Travis Jankowski (4-for-7) RBI single that scored Rocky Gale (2-for-5) who doubled to get on.
An eleven-batter, six-run fifth gave the Grizzlies a 7-3 lead. Colin Walsh (2-for-6) doubled and scored on a Tony Kemp (2-for-7) RBI double before a White two-run double brought home Kemp himself and Rico Noel who was hit by a pitch. White then came around to score on an error that allowed A.J. Reed (3-for-7) to reach base on a single. After Preston Tucker (2-for-7) doubled to get on, a Reid Brignac (2-for-6) two-run double scored him and Reed.
El Paso tacked on another run in the sixth with another Jankowski RBI single, this time scoring Rafael Ortega (2-for-4) who also singled. Fresno got the run back in the top of the seventh when Reed led off the inning with a solo home run to right center field. It was Reed's third homer in two games after homering twice on Tuesday night. It was also Reed's 33rd home run of the season, tying Pedro Feliz (2000) for the highest single-season total in Grizzlies' history.
Diego Goris (3-for-7) hit a home run of his own for the Chihuahuas in the bottom of the eighth to cut Fresno's lead to 8-6. The two-run shot to left center was his 11th of the season and scored Ortega who led off the frame with a walk. Then in the ninth, Hunter Renfroe (3-for-7) drove a two-run homer to left center that scored Chase d'Arnaud (2-for-8) who singled to get on. It was his third home run of the season and tied the game 8-8 to force extra innings.
The Chihuahuas won it 9-8 in the 14th with a d'Arnaud walk-off RBI single that scored Tony Cruz who also singled. Starter Bryan Rodriguez allowed six runs on nine hits through 4.1 innings with five strikeouts. He did not walk a batter. Reliever Adam Cimber (4-1) earned the win through a scoreless 13th and 14th innings allowing just one hit with one strikeout.
Fresno starter Mike Hauschild allowed four runs on eight hits and three walks with five strikeouts through five innings. Reliever Reymin Guduan (5-7) suffered the loss allowing the winning run on three hits with one out in the 14th. The Grizzlies pitching staff combined for 15 strikeouts, one more than the previous high of 14 which happened three times this season. El Paso combined for 16 strikeouts, one more than the previous high of 15 allowed by an opponent in a game in 2017.
The finale of the four-game series between the Grizzlies and the Chihuahuas is on Thursday at 5:35 p.m. PT. Probable starters are RHP David Martinez (7-11, 4.62) for Fresno and RHP Chris Huffman (2-1, 3.71) for El Paso.
