Early Lead Helps Grizzlies Even Series Despite Inland Rally

BOX SCORE

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The Fresno Grizzlies built a commanding lead and tacked on one more insurance run in the top of the ninth before holding their breath through a wild ninth inning, surviving a grand slam scare to escape with an 8-7 win over the Inland Empire 66ers on Wednesday night at San Manuel Stadium.

Fresno wasted no time getting on the board. Ashly Andujar singled in the first at bat of the game and Wilder Dalis grounded a ball to the right side that trickled into right field to put runners in scoring position, and sacrifice flies from Cristian Arguelles and Daniel Jackson brought both of them home to stake the Grizzlies to a 2-0 lead before Inland Empire had come to bat.

Dalis added to it in the third with a monster solo homer just to the left of the scoreboard in right-center, his 16th of the season, pushing the lead to 3-0.

Inland Empire got one back in the bottom half, but the Grizzlies had plenty more in the tank.

Fresno blew the game open in the fourth as Ronny Ugarte doubled down the left field and Jack Natili walked, and Juan Martinez ripped a two-run double into the gap in right-center to score them both.

Cort MacDonald singled in the infield to move Martinez over to third, and Landyn Vidourek followed with a line drive two-run double of his own, capping a four-run frame that pushed the Grizzlies' lead to a commanding 7-1.

Inland Empire chipped away with single runs in the fifth and the eighth on a solo homer from Estevan Moreno, cutting the deficit to 7-3, but Fresno had an answer ready.

Andujar doubled in the ninth and came around to score on an Arguelles single, giving the Grizzlies a five-run cushion at 8-3 heading to the bottom of the inning.

That's when things got interesting. Inland Empire loaded the bases on a trio of hit batters against Wilmis Paulino, and Yorger Bautista turned on a pitch and sent it out for a grand slam, suddenly cutting the deficit to 8-7 and putting the tying run at the plate.

Paulino settled back down, getting a flyout and a strikeout to strand the tying run and slam the door, securing a nerve-wracking 8-7 win for the Grizzlies.

Austin Newton picked up the win after bridging the middle innings with 3.2 solid frames, and Luichi Casilla was sharp in the start before turning things over to the bullpen.

Fresno finished with 10 hits, led by Martinez and Vidourek's two-run doubles in the decisive fourth inning.

The win helps Fresno at least maintain pace in the North, possibly pulling back even with Stockton on Wednesday night.

The series continues on Thursday as Fresno will turn to Izeah Muniz for the 6:35pm start. The broadcast will begin with the Chukchansi Gold Pregame Show on 790 ESPN Fresno beginning at 6:20pm from San Manuel Stadium.

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.