#Growlifornia 2.0: Grizzlies open new era with extra-inning triumph

Fresno, Calif. (Thursday, April 4) - The final professional baseball game on the contintent to end Thursday night was well worth the wait for fans of the Fresno Grizzlies (1-0), and not just because of the post-game fireworks. Solo homers by Collin Cowgill (2-for-3, BB, 2 runs) in the second inning and Jacob Wilson in the fourth steadied Fresno on Pacific Coast League opening night, before Taylor Gushue came off the bench to deliver a game-ending, pinch-hit RBI single on a low line drive to centerfield to win it for the Grizzlies 5-4 over the Reno Aces (0-1) in the 10^th with two outs.
Matt Reynolds (2-for-3, double, RBI, run, walk) and Alec Keller (RBI single, game-winning run) also delivered run-scoring hits for the home side. After jumping to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on an Abraham Almonte two-run double, Reno rallied from a 4-2 deficit to send the game to extras thanks to a Kevin Cron solo homer in the eighth, and a Domingo Leyba two-out RBI triple in the ninth before Fresno's victorious response.
Grizz lefty and MLB veteran Vidal Nuno (1-0) retired the side in order with three ground balls in the 10^th, collecting the winning decision. Joey Krehbiel (0-1) was saddled with the loss for Reno.  
Top Performers: Fresno Grizzlies (Washington Nationals)
• CF Collin Cowgill (2-3, HR, 2 R, BB)
• 2B Matt Reynolds (2-3, 2B, RBI, R, BB)
• 3B Jacob Wilson (1-3, HR)
Top Performers: Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks)
• RHP Taylor Clarke (ND, 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO)
• 1B Kevin Cron (1-4, HR, 2 R, BB)
• C Caleb Joseph (2-4, 2B)
ON THAT FRES-NOTE:  The Grizzlies are now 9-13 all-time on opening day, and 1-3 against Reno. A Giants-affiliated team dropped a 5-4 decision in 12 innings on April 8, 2010 on the road against the Aces (Fresno catcher was Buster Posey, 3-for-5, 2 runs), before a pair of Astros squads lost consecutive openers to Reno on April 6, 2017 (13-6 at Chukchansi Park) and April 5, 2018 (10-2 at Greater Nevada Field).