Fresno storms back to defeat Reno
FRESNO, Calif. - These aren't the Fresno Grizzlies (32-23) you've been used to over the years. Two four-run innings brought the first place Grizzlies back from a four-run deficit as they tied it in the sixth and then stormed ahead in the eighth to make their way to an 11-7 win over the Reno Aces (25-31) on Saturday night at Chukchansi Park. With the victory, Fresno has won four of their last five games.
Heading into the bottom of the eighth tied at seven, catcher Tyler Heineman led off the inning with his third hit of the night and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Joe Sclafani. After reliever Jake Barrett issued a walk to Alex Presley, the right-hander surrendered the lead when Carlos Correa bounced a go-ahead RBI single up the middle to plate Heineman. Presley would score on a ground out by Matt Duffy to push the lead to 9-7, but Fresno wasn't done yet. With Jon Singleton drawing a two-out walk, L.J. Hoes made the most of the free pass by singling up the middle and watching the ball scoot under the glove of center fielder Nick Buss. As the ball rolled all the way to the warning track, Correa and Singleton scored, while Hoes kept chugging around the bases and was waved home. The relay in from the second baseman got to Lalli well ahead of Hoes, who despite attempting a juke move, was tagged out at the plate.
Kevin Chapman entered the game for Fresno in the top of the ninth and tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning to secure the win. The bullpen has not allowed a homer in their past 18 games, owning a 2.70 ERA (17 ER/56.2 IP) over that stretch. Chapman has accumulated five saves in the span that dates back to May 18th at El Paso.
The Grizzlies grabbed their first lead of the night in the third when Domingo Santana roped a grounder down the line in left to score two. However, Fresno tripped themselves in the top of the fifth and let the lead slip away thanks to two costly errors. Reno's Blake Lalli led off the inning with a single and took second on an error. Danny Worth followed with a bunt single, and then Danny Dorn reached on the second error of the inning when Singleton's flip to starter Asher Wojciechowski skipped off of his glove and banged him in the face. Nick Evans followed with a single, and then Jamie Romak doubled to push the newfound Aces' lead to 6-3.
Reno would add a seventh run in the sixth on a double by Danny Worth, taking a four-run lead against Fresno into the bottom of the sixth. The Grizzlies were primed to rise to the challenge by putting together five straight singles to lead off the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs in the process. With no outs, they used it to their advantage by coming through with two sacrifice flies that tied the game up at 7-7.
Fresno and Reno meet again Sunday afternoon at 2:05 PM PT at Chukchansi Park. Fresno lefty Luis Cruz (2-2, 4.34) takes the hill against Aces' righty Gabriel Arias (2-1, 5.00). A Jurassic Ballpark theme will be on display throughout Save Mart Sunday, with the Grizzlies giving away advanced screening passes to see Jurassic World, along with posters, t-shirts, and hats. After the game, fans can stick around to watch the 1993 classic Jurassic Park on the Chukchansi Park jumbotron. Gates for the game open at 1:05 PM PT. For more information, contact the ticket office tomorrow morning at 559.320.TIXS.