Grizzlies down Aces in 10 innings, 4-1

Reno, Nv.---Fresno Grizzlies (35-40) first baseman Brett Pill's two-out 10th inning double to left field proved to be the difference in a 4-1 10-inning win over the Reno Aces (29-46) at Aces Ballpark on Thursday night. 

With the game tied at one, Fresno center fielder Gary Brown singled to center to lead off the 10th. Two batters later, pitcher George Kontos (2-1) sacrificed Brown to second. Then it was Pill who smashed a Matt Gorgen (1-1) pitch down the left field line, which scored Brown to give the Grizzlies the lead. Following Pill was right fielder Roger Kieschnick (11), who on a full-count pitch from Gorgen launched a drive over the Reno bullpen in right-center for a two-run homer to make it 4-1. The Grizzlies, with the roundtripper by Kieschnick, have homered in a season-high 12 straight games.

Reno led 1-0 going to the ninth inning, and had right-hander Evan Marshall on the hill. Pill led off with a single to center, and Kieschnick followed with the same on a ball to left. However, Reno left fielder Evan Frey booted the ball, and seeing that Pill moved to third on the error and Kieschnick took second. The Aces played the infield back, and second baseman Cole Gillespie grounded out to shortstop, which scored Pill to even matters. 

With his two hits, Pill extends his hitting streak to 14 games, which is the longest for Fresno this year.

The Aces run came in the third inning on a two-out single to left field by second baseman Tyler Bortnick.

Fresno left-handed starter Mike Kickham pitched a season-long 7 2/3 innings. He gave up six hits, one run (earned), two walks, and struck out five. 

Reno right-handed starter Charles Brewer, in his first game back from Arizona, tossed five shutout innings. He issued six hits, two walks, three strikeouts, and a wild pitch.

Kontos, who has a decision in all three of his Fresno appearances this year, pitched 2 1/3 shutout innings. The right-hander gave up no hits and walked one and struck out two. 

Gorgen allowed all three runs (earned) in the 10th inning.

With the win, Fresno snaps a four-game losing streak, and will try for the series split Friday with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch. Right-hander Boof Bonser (2-6) will start for Fresno against right-hander J.J. Putz (0-0) who is slated to start on a rehab assignment (right elbow) for Reno at Aces Ballpark.

 

GRIZZLIES PAWS:

Fresno is 7-4 this year in extra innings. The Grizzlies have played more extra inning games than any Pacific Coast League team this season.

In addition to Pill, other streaks extended: 

Kensuke Tanaka has reached base safely in 18 straight contests

Johnny Monell: 9-game hitting streak

Gary Brown: 11-game hitting streak (22 hits in that span)

Pill lifetime against Reno is hitting .339 with 10 homers, and 42 RBIs. Pill's 10 homers against the Aces are second all-time against Reno. Former Sacramento River Cat Chris Carter has 12 against Reno for the most.

Gillespie celebrated his 29th birthday on Thursday. He was 1-for-3 with a single, RBI, and two walks. He has hit safely in his last three birthdays. And overall, has five hits as a professional baseball player on his birthday.