Grizzlies Fend Off Aces In 5-4 Win

Fresno, Calif. - The Fresno Grizzlies picked up their 72nd win of the season on Wednesday with a 5-4 victory over the Reno Aces at Chukchansi Park. The win clinches at least a .500 record for Fresno in 2012, which is the fifth time in franchise history the Grizzlies will finish with a .500 record or better.

The two teams traded runs for much of the game with the Grizzlies taking the early advantage in the back-and-forth affair. Xavier Nady made it 1-0 Fresno in the bottom of the first with an RBI groundout with the bases loaded.

Reno erased the minimal advantage in the top of the second, though, on a sacrifice fly by Brent Clevlen to tie the game at 1-1.

Just as quickly as the Aces tied the game, the Grizzlies jumped back in front. Brock Bond dropped a fly ball near the left field line to score pitcher Brian Burres from second base and return the lead to the Grizzlies, 2-1.

Reno forced another tie in the fifth inning when Tyler Bortnick hit a solo home run to even the score at 2-2.

The Grizzlies finally seized the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth inning. Juan Ciriaco led off the sixth with a single to the right-center field gap, but Reno centerfielder A.J. Pollock misplayed the ball and allowed Ciriaco to advance to third base. Ryan Lollis made Pollock's error count when he followed up with an RBI single to plate Ciriaco. Emmanuel Burriss made it 4-2 later in the inning when he scored Lollis with a sacrifice fly.

In the seventh, Ciriaco struck again with an RBI single to score Nick Noonan and extend the Grizzlies lead to 5-2.

Former Grizzlies outfielder Tyler Graham hit a two-run home run to left field in the top of the ninth off Grizzlies reliever Jean Machi to trim the Grizzlies' lead to 5-4. Machi closed out the game, though, to pick up his team-leading 15th save of the season.

The win also secures a season series win for the Grizzlies over the Aces. After Wednesday's win, Fresno is 9-6 against Reno, with all nine Grizzlies wins being by three runs or less. Four of the last five games for the Grizzlies and Aces have been decided by one run.

Burres did not factor into the decision after allowing one run on three hits and three walks in four innings. Brad Penny, making his first appearance with Fresno during his current MLB Rehab assignment, earned the win after pitching a scoreless sixth inning.

Another former Grizzlies pitcher, Joe Martinez, suffered the loss for Reno. He surrendered five runs on 12 hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings.

The Grizzlies and Aces will wrap up their four-game series at Chukchansi Park on Thursday at 7:05 pm. Right-handers Andrew Kown of Fresno and Daniel Cabrera of Reno make up the game's starting pitchers.