Grizzlies Split Series, Homestand With Win

FRESNO- In a homestand that saw them score just 24 runs in eight games against two of the better teams in the league, the Grizzlies still came away with four wins. Fresno took the final game of the eight-game homestand, 6-4, to earn a split with Memphis at Chukchansi Park Thursday night.

Ben Copeland put the Grizzlies (31-16) up 2-0 just two batters into the ballgame, as he followed Brock Bond's leadoff single with his second home run in his last three games. The lead was short-lived, however, as Memphis (25-21) struck back in the bottom half of the frame to tie the score on Jim Rapoport's two-run triple into the right field corner.

The Grizzlies took charge again, though, plating two more in the fourth. One out after Joe Borchard's leadoff single, Brad Boyer and Steve Holm both walked to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Brett Pill hit a swinging bunt out in front of home plate that Lynn fielded and flipped home with the glove hand over the outstretched reach of catcher Bryan Anderson as Borchard scored. Then Bond grounded into a fielder's choice to score Boyer, making it 4-2 Fresno.

Eugenio Velez and Buster Posey hit back-to-back triples to begin the fifth inning, extending the lead to 5-2. After Memphis cut the margin to 5-4 with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh, Fresno reestablished a two-run cushion in the bottom half. Copeland led off with a double, moved to second on a Velez sacrifice bunt, and scored three batters later on a fielder's choice off the bat of Jesus Guzman.

Four Grizzlies bullpen pitchers combined to keep the Redbirds at bay over the final 5.0 innings. Geno Espineli earned his third win of the season, setting down all six batters he faced. Osiris Matos got the final four outs to earn his second save.

The Grizzlies improved to 16-8 at Chukchansi Park, and now lead their division by 9.5 games over second-place Reno, which lost tonight at Albuquerque. The lead matches the largest margin the Grizzlies have held all season. Fresno hits the road to take on Salt Lake in a four-game set beginning tomorrow night at 6:05pm PDT.

WP: Espineli (3-1); LP: Lynn (3-3); S: Matos (2); HR: Copeland (2), Cazana (3)