Fast Start Helps Grizzlies Even Series
BOX SCORE FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Grizzlies bounced back in a big way Wednesday night, pounding out 11 hits and drawing tenwalks in a 10-2 win over the Stockton Ports at Chukchansi Park. Sebastian Blanco’s first homer at Single-A and Ben Davis’ win on the mound in his professional
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Grizzlies bounced back in a big way Wednesday night, pounding out 11 hits and drawing tenwalks in a 10-2 win over the Stockton Ports at Chukchansi Park.
Sebastian Blanco’s first homer at Single-A and Ben Davis’ win on the mound in his professional debut highlighted a full team effort as Fresno snapped a five-game skid, pulling even in the crucial week-long series with Stockton.
Fresno wasted no time getting started. Behind an overpowering first inning from starter Sandy Ozuna the Grizzlies quickly came to the plate in the bottom of the first.
With two outs in the first, Cristian Arguelles singled and Daniel Jackson followed with a single of his own whileJack Natili walked to load the bases before Juan Martinez drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run.
A wild pitch brought home another, and the Grizzlies were off and running with a 2-0 lead before the Ports had come to bat.
The Grizzlies blew it open in the second. Cort MacDonald walked and Blanco followed with his first home run of the season, a two-run shot towards the top of the hill in the pool area out in left-center, that made it 4-0.
Landyn Vidourek doubled and stole third, and Arguelles' single brought him home to make it 5-0.
Natili capped the inning with an RBI double to score Arguelles, and just like that Fresno led 6-0 before the third inning even started.
Ports starter Corey Braun didn't survive the second inning.
He was pulled after Arguelles' RBI single, having been charged with six runs, and reliever Josnier Parra settled things down from there, working 2.2 scoreless innings to keep the game from getting even further out of hand.
Stockton got on the board in the fourth. Bobby Blandford singled and Roman Martin lined into an unassisted double play, but Alex Sosa followed with a solo homer and Jose Ramos doubled, cutting the deficit to 6-1.
The Grizzlies answered right back in the fifth. Jackson, Natili and Martinez all drew walks to load the bases, and Ryan Niedzwiedz's inning-ending double play still managed to score Jackson from third, pushing the lead to 7-1.
Stockton chipped away in the sixth. Drew Burress reached on a throwing error by Carlos Renzullo, stole third, and came around to score on a double play, cutting it to 7-2, but that's as close as the Ports would get.
Fresno put the game away in the eighth. Blanco doubled and moved to third on a balk, and Vidourek's single brought him home to make it 8-2. Jackson singled, Natili followed with an RBI single to make it 9-2, and Martinez capped the rally with an RBI single of his own to push the final margin to 10-2.
Ozuna gave the Grizzlies a strong start, allowing just one run — the solo homer to Sosa — over four innings.
Davis followed with a perfect inning in relief in his debut, the 4th round pick from Mississippi, striking out two to keep his ERA at 0.00.
Redinson Gomez and Ethan Cole combined to finish things off, with Cole working three scoreless innings to lock down the save.
Jackson led the Fresno offense, reaching base four times and scoring three runs, while Natili drove in two runs and continued a torrid stretch that has him hitting .400 to kick off his professional career.
Blanco's two-run homer was the night's signature blow, and Vidourek and Arguelles each finished with two hits and two runs scored.
The Grizzlies finished 5-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left nine on base, but the sheer volume of traffic on the bases made up for any missed opportunities.
It was exactly the response Fresno needed after Tuesday's loss to open the series, and the Grizzlies get back within two games behind Stockton in the North Division with 16 games remaining in the regular season.
The pivotal third game of the series is Thursday night at Chukchansi Park with first pitch slated for 6:50pm.
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.