Marathon 16-Inning Game Goes Against Fresno
Mitch Lively became the sixth Grizzlies pitcher of the night when he entered in the top of the 16th inning. Lively walked the first two batters of the frame, and Adam Rosales bunted in a sacrifice attempt. Eli Whiteside fielded the bunt grounder, and his throw to third to get the force out was too late.
A line drive hit by Michael Taylor deflected off of Lively, and Charlie Culberson fielded it. Culberson, with a slight hesitation, threw out Eric Sogard at home, and Whiteside quickly threw it to the third to complete a possible double play. The throw was not in time, though, keeping the bases loaded. After Daric Barton's strikeout, Recker hit a towering fly ball to the left field bleachers to give the River Cats a 6-2 advantage.
The game was the longest for the Grizzlies this season in terms of innings and time. It had a combined 123 plate appearances, nine runs, 19 hits, four errors, and 19 left on base. Fresno went 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position while Sacramento went 2-for-12.
The Grizzlies scored their first two runs in the third inning. Skyler Stromsmoe plated Eli Whiteside to tie the game at 1-1. Two batters later and with two outs, Brett Pill reached on an error by Sacramento shortstop Grant Green, allowing Brock Bond to score.
The Grizzlies led 2-1 entering the seventh inning, but Michael Taylor hit a leadoff triple off the center field wall. Daric Barton followed with a fly out to right fielder Devin Harris, and Harris' throw home kept Taylor at third base.
During Anthony Recker's at-bat, a pitch in the dirt that strayed away from catcher Eli Whiteside induced Taylor to attempt to run home. Whiteside quickly fielded the ball, however, changing the mind of Taylor as he returned to third. Whiteside, though, made an errant throw in an attempt to get Taylor out at third during the sequence. The throw sailed to the visiting bullpen, and Taylor easily scored to tie the game at 2-2.
Pill drove in Noonan to slightly trim the River Cats' lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the 16th.
Kila Ka'aihue staked the River Cats to a 1-0 lead in the first on a bloop single to short center field.
Grizzlies starting pitcher Yusmeiro Petit allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks during his 6 1/3 innings pitched.
Prior to Lively entering in the 16th, four Grizzlies relievers, Dan Otero, Jean Machi, Scott Munter and Clayton Tanner, did not allow a run in 8 2/3 innings. Otero (1 2/3 innings) and Machi (two innings pitched) did not allow a hit during their respective innings of work.
Arnold Leon picked up the win for Sacramento, his second of the year, after holding Fresno scoreless in two innings.
The final game of the five-game series and the first half of the PCL season will be on Sunday at 6:05 pm. Jason Stevenson will start for Fresno, opposing Brad Peacock.