The Fresno Grizzlies (15-23) lost 4-1 in the series opener against the Nashville Sounds (16-18) on Monday night, the start of a four-game series and eight-game homestand at Chukchansi Park.The Sounds strung together four runs in the middle three frames to take the lead over the Grizzlies. Matt Olson started
The Fresno Grizzlies (15-23) lost 4-1 in the series opener against the Nashville Sounds (16-18) on Monday night, the start of a four-game series and eight-game homestand at Chukchansi Park.
The Sounds strung together four runs in the middle three frames to take the lead over the Grizzlies. Matt Olson started the scoring with his eighth home run of the season to right to make the score 1-0 in the fourth.
In the fifth, Bruce Maxwell (3-for-4) knocked his first home run of 2017 to right and Franklin Barreto hit a RBI single to score Melvin Mercedes to make the score 3-0. Nashville took a 4-0 lead in the sixth when Matt Chapman scored on another Maxwell RBI after doubling.
Grizzlies starter Casey Coleman (1-2) suffered the loss after allowing four runs on six hits and two walks with six strikeouts through five and two thirds. For Nashville, starter Chris Bassitt (1-0) earned the win in five scoreless innings only allowing three hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
Fresno avoided getting shut out in the ninth that started with Tony Kemp leading off with a double. Preston Tucker scored him with a sacrifice fly to make the final score 4-1. Kemp is 11-for-22 (.500) in his last five games with five doubles, five RBI, four runs, a walk and two stolen bases.
Juan Centeno extended his Grizzlies hit streak to 14 games and went 2-for-3 on the night with a single and a double. He has also hit safely in 17 of 19 games where he is batting .368 (25-for-68) on the season with a triple, five doubles, seven RBI, six runs scored and four walks.
Derek Fisher's 17-game hit streak (April 25 - May 14) was snapped in the loss Monday night. The streak was the longest for Fresno this season and one shy of the longest in the Houston Astros affiliation era, 18 by Joe Sclafani in 2015. Fisher raised his overall average from .254 to .326 since the streak began, while batting .400 (30-for-75) during the 17-game span with five homers, seven doubles, 15 RBI, 11 runs, three walks and three stolen bases.
The Grizzlies and the Sounds will play the second of a four-game series on Taco Tuesday with the first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. RHP Jharel Cotton will make his first start of 2017 for Nashville, while RHP David Martinez (1-4, 6.67) will be on the mound for Fresno.
