Comeback Falls Short As Grizzlies Lose In Memphis

Memphis- Memphis Redbirds shortstop Peter Kozma had a bases clearing triple, and an RBI double as he helped lead his team to a 7-5 win over the Fresno Grizzlies on Saturday night at Autozone Park. The Grizzlies have dropped four straight games and are now seven games back of first place, in third place behind Sacramento in the Pacific Coast League's Pacific Southern Division.

Kozma, the number one pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2007, hit a 2-2 pitch from Fresno right-handed starter Shane Loux down the left field line which turned a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead. It was his first triple of the season.

Fresno (18-19) had a chance early to open the game with a big inning. The Grizzlies loaded the bases with nobody out in the first inning against Memphis (13-22) righty starter Adam Ottavino but could only muster one run, on a one-out sacrifice fly to right by third baseman Conor Gillaspie. It was the first of four RBI for Gillaspie, who in the fifth inning ripped a bases loaded double to right-center field.

Memphis opened the game up adding two more runs in the third on a home run to left field by right fielder Andrew Brown, and two more runs in the fourth.

Ottavino (1-3) lasted five innings, gave up seven hits, four runs (all earned), walked four and struck out three. Victor Marte earned his team-high fifth save for Memphis despite allowing an eighth inning run.

Loux (2-4) allowed a season-high seven runs (all earned) over five innings. He also gave up a season-high nine hits, walking two and striking out two.

The theme on the road trip for Fresno has been leaving runners on base. Through five games, the Grizzlies have stranded 53 runners, as the visitors stranded 11 more on base in this contest.

Game two of this scheduled four-game series is on Sunday morning at Autozone Park. The first pitch will be delivered at 11:35am PDT. Left-hander Matt Yourkin (3-2) will oppose Memphis right-hander P.J. Walters (0-3).

GRIZZLIES PAWS:
Both teams wore throw back Negro League uniforms. Memphis was honoring the Memphis Red Sox a Negro League team from the early 1920's through the late 1940's. The Redbirds wore the Red Sox uniforms while Fresno wore the Homestead Grays uniforms.

Second baseman Emmanuel Burriss fell a home run shy of the cycle. He tripled on the first pitch of the game.

Catcher Jackson Williams celebrated his 25th birthday. He was 0-for-4, but did throw out a would-be base stealer.

Infielder Brett Pill did not play on Saturday, marking his first game off all season.

Pinch hitter Edgar Gonzalez ripped an RBI-single in the eighth inning.

After the three-hour rain delay on Friday night in Nashville, the Grizzlies did not get to their hotel in Memphis until 4:50 a.m. on Saturday.