Long Balls Cost Grizzlies Friday Night
BOX SCORE FRESNO, Calif. – Despite striking first and cutting into a big deficit with a three-run homer in the sixth, the Fresno Grizzlies couldn't catch up to the Stockton Ports, falling 9-4 Friday night at Chukchansi Park. Fresno struck first as Landyn Vidourek drew a one-out lwalk and stole
FRESNO, Calif. – Despite striking first and cutting into a big deficit with a three-run homer in the sixth, the Fresno Grizzlies couldn't catch up to the Stockton Ports, falling 9-4 Friday night at Chukchansi Park.
Fresno struck first as Landyn Vidourek drew a one-out lwalk and stole second, and Daniel Jackson lined a single to left center with two outs to bring him home, giving the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead before the Ports had recorded a hit.
Stockton answered with single runs in the second and a two-run third, the latter capped by a Drew Burress homer, and tacked on two more in the fourth on a Gavin Turley leadoff homer and an RBI single, building a 5-1 cushion.
The Ports added another run in the fifth to push it to 6-1.
The Grizzlies delivered their best swing of the night in the sixth.
Jackson walked and Ronny Ugarte singled him to second before Jack Natili turned on a pitch and drove it out to left for a three-run homer, cutting the deficit to 6-4 and giving Fresno a jolt of life.
Stockton restored some cushion in the seventh on an RBI single, then added a solo homer from Max Durrington in the eighth and a run in the ninth on a Sosa double, closing out the 9-4 final.
Marcos Herrera took the loss, tagged for two of Stockton's three homers in his two innings of work, Austin Newton and Wilmis Paulino did what they could to keep the deficit manageable out of the bullpen.
Izeah Muniz returned to the mound for the first time in four months, tossing two innings while allowing one run and notching a strikeout.
Natili's three-run blast was the offensive highlight for Fresno, and he's now hitting .368 on the season.
Ugarte added two hits including a double, Ashly Andujar had a pair of hits of his own, and Jackson reached base twice and scored the Grizzlies' first run.
Despite the loss, Fresno is just two games behind Stockton with two games remaining in the series.
Fresno turns to Brady Parker on Saturday night for the 6:50pm start on Dino Nugget Night at Chukchansi Park.
ABOUT THE FRESNO GRIZZLIES
The Fresno Grizzlies are a proud affiliate of the Colorado Rockies organization. The club advanced to the California League playoffs in 2025 and continues to post some of Minor League Baseball's highest attended games. The 2026 season marks the Grizzlies' 25th year in Downtown Fresno.