Fresno offense goes silent in loss

FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno Grizzlies (43-29) offense struggled through a 2-0 loss to the Sacramento River Cats (31-42) Wednesday night at Chukchansi Park in front of 4,660 fans. They managed to send only five balls past the infield (all fly ball outs) and didn't get a runner past first base all night.

            River Cats lefty Nik Turley allowed only three baserunners over the course of six shutout innings. After giving up a one-out infield single to Alex Presley in the second, he retired 12 straight Fresno hitters until Joe Sclafani legged out a one-out infield single in the sixth. The Sacramento bullpen faired just as good, retiring the final nine batters in order.

            Sacramento managed to scratch across a run in the third when Ryan Lollis doubled to left, went to third on a grounder from Kevin Frandsen, and scored on a wild pitch by Jake Buchanan. Despite piling up 10 hits, the River Cats went just 1-for-13 with RISP and didn't add an insurance run until the ninth.

            Tonight marked only the fourth time this season Fresno didn't record an extra-base hit. Jon Singleton almost came through in the seventh when he worked the count to 3-2 and sent a potential game-tying solo homer just a few feet foul.

            The shutout loss for the Grizzlies is their first at home since August 16, 2014 when they were pancaked 10-0 by Colorado Springs.

Grizzlies finish up homestand Thursday night

            The series will conclude on Thursday, June 25^th when former Fresno Grizzlies pitcher Matt Cain makes a rehab start for the River Cats and opposes Fresno righty Brady Rodgers. The start by Cain will be his first at Chukchansi Park since the 2005 season that saw him set the Grizzlies franchise record for strikeouts in a season (176). He'll face stiff competition in Rodgers, who is 5-2 with a 2.94 ERA (17 ER/52.0 IP) over his last nine starts.

            Additional promotions for Thursday night include a Burger Throwdown between Colorado Grill and Meltdown Bistro. The two will be selling two sliders for $7 out of concession stands along the third-base concourse near the Tecate Cantina. Colorado Grill's classic burger, which has won them the title of Best Burger in Fresno, will go up against Meltdown Bistro's "Juicy Lucy Slider," which is a grass fed beef slider stuffed with your choice of either blue cheese and bacon, or cheddar, bacon and mushroom. From there, it's smothered in melted cheese on a mini brioche bun from Max's Artisan Breads.

            Moreover, the traditional Tecate Thursday will be in full force, which offers $2 24-ounce Tecate and Tecate Light through the end of the fifth inning, and $1 12-ounce sodas all game. 

            For tickets or information, call the box office at 559.320.TIXS.