Hernandez homers twice to lift Grizzlies over Rainiers 5-1

The Fresno Grizzlies (50-41) opened a four-game series in Tacoma on Thursday and extended their season-best road win streak to six games with a 5-1 win over the Rainiers (46-44) in their first game back following the All-Star Break.
The Rainiers were first on the board when they opened the scoring in the third frame. Tyler O'Neill singled to get on and scored on a Daniel Vogelbach (2-for-4) RBI double to take a 1-0 lead.
A nine-batter fifth gave the Grizzlies a 4-1 lead. Teoscar Hernández (2-for-4) knocked the first Fresno hit of the game, a lead-off home run to left. The solo shot was his ninth homer of the season. Then, Colin Moran and A.J. Reed both walked to get on before scoring on a Jon Kemmer two-run triple. Kemmer then came in to score when Reid Brignac reached on a fielder's choice.
With a double in the fifth Tony Kemp extended his hit streak to 18 games, three behind the season-long 21-game hit streak set by Juan Centeno from April 16 to June 2. Kemp is also hitting safely in his last 28 of 29 games as he passes Derek Fisher (17) for the second-longest club hit streak.
The Grizzlies increased their lead to 5-1 in the sixth when Hernandez hit his second home run (10) of the night, another lead-off solo shot to left. This marked the seventh time this season that a Fresno batter homered twice in a game. It is the second time Hernandez has done it (6/15 at Albuquerque), while Brignac, Moran, Max Stassi, Preston Tucker and Tyler White are the others.
Grizzlies starter Trent Thornton (6-2) tied his season high in strikeouts with seven through five innings. He allowed just one run on six hits and a walk for the win. Tacoma starter Sam Gaviglio (2-4) allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts in the loss.
The Grizzlies continue the four-game series at Cheney Stadium on Friday at 7:05 p.m. Probable starters are RHP David Martinez (5-7, 4.53) for Fresno against RHP Casey Lawrence (2-1, 3.86) for Tacoma.