The Fresno Grizzlies (74-61) fell 10-2 in the series opener against the El Paso Chihuahuas (68-67) on Monday night at Southwest University Park. It was the first of four against El Paso and the start of an eight-game roadtrip for the Grizzlies, their final regular season games on the road.The
The Fresno Grizzlies (74-61) fell 10-2 in the series opener against the El Paso Chihuahuas (68-67) on Monday night at Southwest University Park. It was the first of four against El Paso and the start of an eight-game roadtrip for the Grizzlies, their final regular season games on the road.
The Chihuahuas opened the scoring in the first with a Franchy Cordero (2-for-5) RBI triple that scored Chase d'Arnaud (2-for-5) who reached on a fielder's choice. Cordero then scored on a Hunter Renfroe (3-for-5) RBI single.
The Grizzlies scored their only runs of the game to tie the contest 2-2 in the fifth. Tony Kemp knocked a two-run single to left that scored Drew Ferguson and Reid Brignac who both walked to get on. The base hit extended Kemp's hit streak to a current club-high 11 games.
El Paso jumped out in front with a 7-2 lead after a five-run fifth. Cordero notched two more RBI with a base hit before scoring on a Renfroe two-run homer to center, his second of the season. Christian Villanueva didn't waste much time and went back-to-back with a solo home run to left. It was his 20th of the season.
The home team's lead increased in the sixth when Diego Goris (2-for-4) singled to get on and scored on an error that allowed Travis Jankowski (2-for-5) to reach base. The Chihuahuas made the final score 10-2 in the seventh when Nick Buss hit a RBI triple that scored Villanueva (walk) and an error allowed Buss himself to score.
Grizzlies starter Kent Emanuel (1-2) suffered the loss through five innings allowing seven runs on nine hits without a walk and three strikeouts. Tony Sipp made his second MLB rehab appearance for Fresno in the sixth, allowing one run on two hits. For the Chihuahuas, starter Jordan Lyles (1-1) earned the win allowing the two runs on three hits and three walks with five strikeouts through five innings.
Fresno and El Paso continue the four-game series at Southwest University Park on Tuesday at 5:35 p.m. PT. Probable starters are RHP Cy Sneed (1-0, 5.25) for the Grizzlies and RHP Tim Melville who will be making his first start of 2017 for the Chihuahuas.
