Worth slams Salt Lake into submission

The Houston Astros, who did not sign many minor league free agents heading into the 2016 season, chose the ones they did sign very carefully. Through five games, the addition of versatile infielder Danny Worth has paid major dividends for the defending Triple-A champs in Fresno. Despite a two-hour rain delay pushing the start of Wednesday's game in Salt Lake City past 8:30 p.m. local time, it proved to well be "Worth" the wait for a 6-0 victory over the Bees (5-2).

The Grizzlies (3-2) drew first blood in the second; a Nolan Fontana leadoff single later scored on Jon Kemmer's RBI knock to right that beat the shift. It was the fourth time in five games this year that Fresno scored first.

Fresno then busted the game wide open in the fourth, by loading the bases without a hit (Fontana fielder's choice, Heineman catcher's interference and Kemmer fielder's choice). With two out Tony Kemp walked for his second RBI of the season, before Danny Worth pulverized a Yunesky Maya (loss, 1-1) pitch beyond the left field fence for a grand slam, his second home run of the young season. 

Worth (2-for-5), the only player to hit safely in all five games thus far, is eight for his first 22 (.364), and leads Fresno in homers and RBI (six) through five games. The slam would end Maya's night, lasting just four innings despite striking out six (three walks). He allowed four hits, but just one of the six runs were earned thanks to the unorthodox way in which the Grizzlies loaded the bases in the fourth.

Making his season-debut, Grizzlies lefty Tommy Shirley (win, 1-0) was excellent in five shutout innings. Facing just two over the minimum, he allowed three harmless singles and a walk, striking out four. The bullpen team of Edwar Cabrera, Jordan Jankowski, Juan Minaya and James Hoyt each tossed a scoreless inning of relief to close it out.

2015 Pacific Coast League MVP Matt Duffy, in his first game of 2016 with Fresno following his option from Houston, went 1-for-4 with a single. He's appeared in three games with the Astros this season after making their opening day roster out of spring training. 

Despite going 0-for-3 with two walks, which ended a three-game hit streak, Kemp is still 7-for-12 in this series with 2 RBI, and 9-for-19 on the season. 

Wednesday was the first shutout win of the season for Fresno, and the first such loss for Salt Lake. The finale of the four game series is scheduled for 6:35 on Thursday before the Grizzlies return to Fresno for their home opener and an eight-game home stand against Las Vegas and Salt Lake.

NOTES: Danny Worth's grand slam was the first for the Grizzlies since Max Stassi on July 6 at home against Tacoma last season (won 8-2), and the first for Fresno at Salt Lake since Adam Duvall nearly two years to the day on April 9, 2014 (won 10-7). In 107 games for Reno last season (Arizona Diamondbacks), Worth finished sixth in the PCL in batting (.314).