Fresno Tigers claw back from 7-0 deficit, but Modesto musters 10-8 triumph on Friday

Fresno, CA (Friday, June 24) – Fantastic first pitches. Fresno Tigers. Friday Night Fireworks. The only place in the world that featured those three themes were in downtown Fresno at beautiful Chukchansi Park. The evening started with a first pitch from former-NFL player, and founder of Golden Charter Academy, Fresno-native Robert Golden. Then during the game, the Grizzlies transformed into the Fresno Tigers in honor of the 1946 West Coast Negro League Baseball team that played under the same name. The tribute to the 1946 team introduced the organization’s first time donning the newly-reimagined Tigers uniform and celebrated Juneteenth. After a wild back-and-forth game, the Modesto Nuts (31-36, 1-0) defeated the Tigers (41-26, 0-1) 10-8 and the crowd finished the night with an amazing firework show.

Modesto’s offense tallied 10 runs on 12 hits. Of those 10 runs, five of them scored in the third while another three were plated in the ninth. The five-run third was the highlight of an early 7-0 Nuts lead. On the other hand, the three runs in the ninth were the go-ahead and eventual game winners. Four Modesto batters secured multi-hit affairs with Edwin Arroyo leading the charge. The shortstop reached base four times, ending his evening a homer shy of the cycle. Arroyo had a game-high three runs and helped turn one double play. Harry Ford and Robert Perez Jr. each had two hits, RBI and runs with Ford notching a double. Ben Ramirez enjoyed a three-run clout in the third while Colin Davis whacked two doubles for the Nuts.

The Tigers lineup roared for eight runs on 15 hits with four of them going for extra-bases. With Fresno trailing 7-0 in the fourth, Zach Kokoska and Adael Amador belted solo shots in back-to-back innings to awaken the offense. The Tigers would plate one run in the fourth, sixth and eighth with another five in the fifth. Bryant Quijada roped a double and drove in two runs while Kokoska picked up the other multi-RBI contest. Yanquiel Fernandez had a triple, three walks and two runs while Hunter Goodman raced home twice in the loss.

After the dust settled, Fresno reliever Tyler Ahearn (2-2) suffered the defeat while Natanael Garabitos (2-1) relished the win. Nuts righty Kelvin Nunez received the save after a clean ninth. Both starters did not factor in the final line. The clubs are back in action tomorrow night from Chukchansi Park.

Top Performers: Fresno Tigers (Colorado Rockies)

• LF Zach Kokoska (2-5, HR, 2 RBI, R)

• SS Adael Amador (2-6, HR, RBI, R)

• RF Yanquiel Fernandez (1-3, 3B, 2 R, 3 BB)

• C Bryant Quijada (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, BB)

Top Performers: Modesto Nuts (Seattle Mariners)

• SS Edwin Arroyo (3-4, 3B, 2B, RBI, 3 R, BB)

• 3B Ben Ramirez (1-4, HR, 3 RBI, R, BB)

• C Harry Ford (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R)

• 1B Robert Perez Jr. (2-5, 2 RBI, 2 R)

On Deck:

Saturday, June 25 vs. Modesto Nuts, Modesto RHP William Fleming (5-6, 5.11) vs. Fresno RHP Victor Juarez (4-1, 3.36), 6:50 pm PT

ON THAT FRES-NOTES:

Tomorrow night will be Health Care Worker Appreciation Night presented by Community Medical Centers at Chukchansi Park. Throughout the game, the Grizzlies will honor and celebrate local health care workers for all of the hard work they do in the community. That evening, the team will also host one their Community Outreach Nights presented by Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino featuring almost two-dozen local organizations and non-profits giving information about their causes throughout the concourse.

Tigers’ relievers Blake Goldsberry, Sergio Sanchez and Juan Mejia struck out six batters over five scoreless innings of work.