Isotopes walk off in extras for sweep of Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies endured just their second series sweep of the 2016 season Tuesday evening in Albuquerque, losing 6-4 in 10 innings on a walk-off homer. The defeat made for the first sweep of Fresno since dropping four at Nashville, May 14-17.
Raimel Tapia, the Colorado Rockies' top outfield prospect at the higher levels, collected his fifth RBI of the four game series on a single for a 1-0 Isotopes lead in the third. The Grizzlies tied the game a half-inning later after a Colin Moran one-out single; the next batter Danny Worth ripped a RBI double to center, scoring Moran to make it a 1-1 game.
Albuquerque re-took the lead in the home half of the fourth, when Tom Murphy socked his 18th home run of the year to the left field alley; the two-run shot made it 3-1. Again, their lead would be short-lived, as Fresno rallied for three runs - all with two out - to take the lead 4-3 in the visitor half of the sixth. Worth singled up the middle and Jon Singleton walked to put two on with two out, when Derek Fisher ripped a two-run triple to left, scoring both to tie it. Fisher then came home on a Max Stassi (2-for-4) RBI liner to right field, putting the Grizzlies in front by a run.
Fisher, who has five hits in the last three games following consecutive two-hit efforts on Sunday and Monday, has Fresno's longest current hit streak at six games. During the streak he's batting .364 (8-for-22), with a home run, two doubles and four RBI.
Fresno starter Brady Rodgers, who is closing in on the Pacific Coast League's ERA title, stayed in the top spot through Tuesday's action despite allowing three earned on eight hits in 5.1 innings. Rodgers struck out four and walked two in a no-decision. At 2.91, Rodgers is still pacing ahead of Round Rock's Michael Roth (3.02) for the top spot. Albuquerque starter German Marquez went 5.2 innings, surrendering four earned runs on six hits, with three walks and six strikeouts.
Murphy slugged his second homer of the night for his third RBI of the game with one out in the home sixth, his 19th longball of the year. The solo shot to left-center re-tied the game 4-4. With the same score in the bottom of the 10th, Brandon Barnes hit Albquerque's third home run of the night, a two-run shot to left-center to walk-off with a 6-4 Isotopes victory. Isotopes' closer Brian Schlittler picked up the win (2-0), tossing two perfect innings with three strikeouts in the ninth and 10th.
This five-game losing streak ties a dubious season-high for Fresno (second time). The club dropped to 10-7 when tied after seven innings this season, and 7-6 when tied after eight.
With a 3-for-4 night, Danny Worth raised his average to .344 in 71 games with the Grizzlies this season. Worth is batting .393 his last 16 games, and .354 since he re-joined the Fresno lineup from the Astros on August 1.
The Grizzlies now return for their final five regular season home games of 2016, August 24-28, all against the Sacramento River Cats. In the series opener on Wednesday, RHP Chris Stratton (11-5, 4.42) will start for the visitors, against Fresno RHP Cesar Valdez (11-1, 3.28). Game time will be 7:05 p.m. at Chukchansi Park.