Schierholtz cycles his way out of slump
Mired in a 3-for-20 slump in his last five games, Schierholtz put in some extra work before the game, then hit for the cycle in the Fresno Grizzlies' 8-7 loss to the Las Vegas 51s at Cashman Field.
"I wasn't seeing the ball well the last few days, so I took extra batting practice," Schierholtz explained. "I was able to hit the first pitch I saw for a homer and the first pitch for a double in my second at-bat. It was good to get off to a quick start."
The home run was the sixth of the year for the 24-year-old right fielder, who lined out in the sixth after his two-bagger in the fourth. With the Grizzlies trailing in the eighth, 6-3, Schierholtz roped a two-RBI triple. He scored on Brian Horwitz's single to tie the game.
"The plan was to be aggressive, especially when you're struggling," Schierholtz said. "I didn't think too much up there. That was the key, to go with a free mind."
After Las Vegas regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the eighth, Scott McClain hit a solo homer, his 11th, in the ninth to get Fresno within a run. Schierholtz stepped to the plate needing just a single to put the finishing touch on his day.
"I came up in the ninth just thinking line drive up the middle. I knew that's what I needed," he said.
His approach worked and he lined a pitch from reliever Brian Falkenborg to center field to complete the first cycle of his career. It was the second such feat in three days in he Pacific Coast League -- Joe Koshansky cycled for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox in Saturday's 11-4 rout of the Tacoma Rainiers.
A second-round pick (63rd overall) in 2003, Schierholtz fell one hit shy of the cycle three times in a two-week span last season. He was a triple shy Aug. 13 against Tucson and a double shy on Aug. 21 and 28 against Salt Lake.
The Las Vegas native hit .333 with 16 homers and 68 RBIs for the Grizzlies last year, and he made his Major League debut for the San Francisco Giants on June 12 against the Toronto Blue Jays. He played in 39 games with San Francisco, batting .304 with five doubles and 10 RBIs in 112 at-bats.
"I had a good first experience but I wasn't as comfortable as I should have been," Schierholz said. "It was good to get my feet wet. Next time I'll feel like I belong and good things will happen. I definitely think I'll get a shot sooner or later."
Brett Harper went 3-for-5 and Horwitz hit a solo homer, his fifth, for Fresno (25-25).
Randy Messenger (1-2) allowed two runs on two hits and three walks while fanning two in one inning. Grizzlies starter Ryan Sadowski gave up four runs on six hits and a walk with two strikeouts over four innings.
John-Ford Griffin swatted a pair of homers and drove in five runs and Angel Chavez hit a solo shot and had three RBIs for the 51s (27-24).
Las Vegas starter Miguel Pinango allowed three runs -- two earned -- on eight hits and a walk while striking out seven. Ramon Troncoso (3-0) picked up the win despite allowing three runs on four hits and a walk in one inning. Falkenborg allowed a run on two hits in the final frame for his eighth save.
Steve Conley is a contributor to MLB.com.