Grizzlies Claw Back Before Falling in 10
BOX SCORE FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Grizzlies matched the San Jose Giants punch for punch for nine innings, tying the game twice, before the Giants broke through with a four-run 10th to escape with an 8-5 win Friday night at Chukchansi Park. In a game marked by a premiere
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Grizzlies matched the San Jose Giants punch for punch for nine innings, tying the game twice, before the Giants broke through with a four-run 10th to escape with an 8-5 win Friday night at Chukchansi Park.
In a game marked by a premiere matchup on the mound, both offenses left their stamps on the scoreline.
San Jose jumped out early against the Grizzlies Brady Parker, scoring three times in the first inning on a string of singles capped by a bases-clearing double from Fresno native Drew Smith in his professional debut.
The Grizzlies chipped right back into the deficit as Juan Martinez led off the second with a solo homer to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Landyn Vidourek made a fine defensive play the inning before, gunning down Oliver Tejada trying to stretch a double into a triple to keep the game manageable.
Fresno kept clawing when Daniel Jackson singled and stole second in the fourth, later scoring on a Cort MacDonald RBI single to make it 3-2.
The Grizzlies tied it at 3-3 in the fifth when Ashly Andujar doubled and came around to score on a Cristian Arguelles double.
San Jose regained the lead in the seventh on a Smith solo homer, but Fresno answered right back in the bottom half.
Andujar singled and Carlos Renzullo followed with a hit that scored him, that bounced away from the centerfielder Andy Polanco, who threw the ball to second, allowing Andujar to score and tie the game at 4-4 once again.
The teams traded zeroes through the eighth and ninth before San Jose broke through in the 10th.
A walk, a sacrifice bunt and a hit-by-pitch set the table, and Josuar Gonzalez and Rod Barajas Jr. each delivered two-run hits to push the Giants' lead to 8-4.
Jack Natili's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning accounted for Fresno's final run in the 8-5 final.
Arguelles finished with two doubles and Andujar collected two hits and two runs scored, while Martinez's homer and MacDonald's RBI single kept the Grizzlies within striking distance most of the night.
Fresno’s magic number remains at 2 with two games to play but they are now tied with Stockton heading into the last bit of the regular season.
The Grizzlies will turn to Bryson Van Sickle on Saturday night as the series continues at Chukchansi Park with a 6:50pm first pitch.
Fresno will celebrate 25 Years Downtown at Chukchansi Park with a jersey giveaway and special pregame ceremonies prior to first pitch.
ABOUT THE FRESNO GRIZZLIES
The Fresno Grizzlies are a proud affiliate of the Colorado Rockies organization. The club advanced to the California League playoffs in 2025 and continues to post some of Minor League Baseball's highest attended games. The 2026 season marks the Grizzlies' 25th year in Downtown Fresno.