Jackson Captivates and MacDonald Delivers Decisive Blow in 10-8 Win

BOX SCORE

FRESNO, Calif. – Despite an early deficit, the offense roared to life in the third inning as the Fresno Grizzlies outlasted a late Stockton charge Thursday night, holding on for a 10-8 win over the Ports in a back-and-forth slugfest at Chukchansi Park.

Stockton scored first against starter Luichi Casilla as a pair of walks and a double steal setup a wild pitch producing the game’s first run without a hit. Casilla struck out the side to limit any further damage.

The Ports added two more in the second using just one hit. A fielding error and another walk, setup Ramon Landaeta's triple down the right field line that cleared them both, pushing the deficit to 3-0.

Fresno answered with its biggest inning of the night in the third.

Cristian Arguelles led off with a single, and Daniel Jackson followed with a two-run homer off the manual scoreboard in right to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Ronny Ugarte, Juan Martinez, Ryan Niedzwiedz, Sebastian Blanco and Renzullo strung together five straight singles and walks around a sacrifice bunt, and by the time the inning ended the Grizzlies had sent Stockton starter Colin Fitzgerald to the showers and taken a 5-3 lead.

The Grizzlies kept the pressure on in the fourth. Jackson doubled and came around to score on an Ugarte single, and Cort MacDonald's sacrifice fly later in the inning brought home another run to make it 7-3.

Stockton clawed back a run in the fifth, but Fresno had an answer ready in the bottom half. Renzullo singled, Arguelles and Jackson both walked, and Ugarte's sacrifice fly scored Renzullo to push the lead to 8-4.

The Ports weren't finished however as Roman Martin's two-run single in the seventh cut the deficit to 8-6, and Stockton trimmed it further in the eighth on an RBI single from Landaeta, making it 8-7 and setting up a tense finish.

The Grizzlies delivered the answer they needed in the bottom of the eighth.

Jackson and Martinez both reached on walks, and MacDonald ripped a two-run triple to right field to make it 10-7, restoring some breathing room in a game that had tightened up considerably.

Stockton got one more run back in the ninth on a Martin double, but Manuel Olivares closed the door from there to secure the 10-8 final and his fifth save of the season, finishing with a four-inning outing.

Jackson was the star of the night for Fresno, going 3-for-3 with a homer, two RBIs and three runs scored while reaching base five times.

Ugarte and MacDonald combined to drive in five runs, with MacDonald's eighth-inning triple proving to be the decisive blow.

Niedzwiedz, Blanco, Renzullo and Martinez each contributed hits and runs in a 15-hit night for the Grizzlies.

Luichi Casilla battled through a shaky start, striking out seven over three innings despite the early damage, and Sam Larson picked up his first professional win with a scoreless inning in his first professional outing in relief.

Fresno native Tanner Sagouspe struck out two in his professional debut in front of friends and family while surrendering just one run in the fifth.

The win pulls Fresno within a game of Stockton with three games left in the series.

The pivotal matchup continues Friday night at 7:05pm as Izeah Muniz makes his return to the mound against Donny Troconis of Stockton.

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.