Arguelles Powers Offense, Van Sickle Slows Rawhide
BOX SCORE FRESNO, Calif. – Cristian Arguelles homered and drove in three runs, and Bryson Van Sickle turned in a stellar start, as the Fresno Grizzlies held off the Visalia Rawhide 4-3 Thursday night at Chukchansi Park. Van Sickle worked seven strong innings and allowed just three runs, striking out
FRESNO, Calif. – Cristian Arguelles homered and drove in three runs, and Bryson Van Sickle turned in a stellar start, as the Fresno Grizzlies held off the Visalia Rawhide 4-3 Thursday night at Chukchansi Park.
Van Sickle worked seven strong innings and allowed just three runs, striking out five and improving to a perfect 4-0 on the season.
He worked efficiently — despite a two-run homer in the sixth — but he battled through traffic all night, including a pair of pickoffs at first base, to keep Fresno in position to win.
The game mirrored itself for the first couple innings as each pitcher retired the side in order in the first.
Visalia struck first when Eliesbert Alejos doubled home Ryder Helfrick in the second, but Fresno answered immediately in the bottom half on a Sebastian Blanco groundout that scored Wilder Dalis to tie it at 1-1.
The Grizzlies took the lead in the third with a two-out rally as Juan Martinez tripled to right, his second three-bagger of the season, and Arguelles drove him in with a single to make it 2-1.
Visalia regained the lead in the sixth when Helfrick followed Abdias De La Cruz’s single with a two-run homer to left center, putting the Rawhide back on top, 3-2.
Fresno didn't blink.
In the bottom of the same inning, Martinez singled and Arguelles unloaded a two-run homer of his own to right field, deep over the right field fence and onto of the netting around the Splash Park, putting Fresno back in front for good at 4-3.
Arguelles finished the night 2-for-4 with the homer, a run scored and three RBI, generating a majority of the Fresno offense.
Martinez added two hits, including his triple, and scored twice.
Fresno's defense and pitching made the lead hold up in the eighth, when Visalia loaded the bases with one out against reliever Austin Newton on a walk, a double and another walk.
Newton induced an inning-ending double play to escape the bases loaded jam.
Newton quickly recorded the final three outs for his first professional save, sealing the 4-3 win.
Fresno's win pushed the Grizzlies to 59-46 and 23-16 in the second half sole possession of first place in the California League North.
The win also seals the season series with the Rawhide in the Highway 99 Rivalry Series as Fresno has won 13 of the first 21 meetings with three more to play.
The series continues Friday night as Sandy Ozuna will make his home debut with the Grizzlies, first pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.
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.