Perez's 4 hits guide Grizzlies to 3-2 win

West Sacramento, Ca.---Fresno Grizzlies (43-52) right fielder Juan Perez's fourth hit of the night proved to be the difference in a 3-2 win over the Sacramento River Cats (48-46) on Thursday night in Fresno's first trip to Raley Field this year.

Perez, who had a triple, three singles, an RBI, and two runs scored in the game, came up with one out and the bases loaded in the ninth inning. With the River Cats infield in, he hit a sharp ground ball toward Sacramento third baseman Scott Moore, who tried to make a sliding stop on the ball. The ball, however, squirted away from him, and everyone was safe, which gave the Grizzlies the lead for good. 

It was Perez's third four-hit game for Fresno this season. 

The rally was set up on a lead off single to left fied by shortstop Ehire Adrianza, who was sacrificed to second on a bunt by catcher Jackson Williams. Adrianza then moved to third when Sacramento left-handed pitcher Pedro Figueroa (2-2) balked. Figueroa followed by issuing back-to-back walks to second baseman Ydwin Villegas and center fielder Gary Brown to load the bases.

The inning prior, the Grizzlies turned the play of the game. The River Cats had runners at first and second with two outs. Sacramento shortstop Andy Parrino hit a ground ball toward right field. Villegas, moving to his left, got to the ball and threw to first, but Parrino was safe. Seeing that, Daric Barton tried to score from second base, but Grizzlies first baseman Brett Pill turned and threw to the plate to Williams, who applied the tag on Barton to keep the game tied.

In addition to Perez, other Grizzlies runs came courtesy of a first inning ground out by left fielder Jeff Francoeur and a third inning single by designated hitter Roger Kieschnick.

Sacramento's two runs were accomplished by second baseman Hiroyuki Nakajima on a two-run fourth inning double.

Left-hander Dan Runzler (3-3), with a scoreless eighth inning, earned the win while Grizzlies while closer right-hander Heath Hembree (18) earned the save. Hembree retired River Cats left fielder Michael Choice, who was up as the possible winning run, on a fly ball to Brown to end the game.

Grizzlies starter Eric Surkamp lasted five innings. The lefty gave up three hits and two runs (both earned). He walked six, struck out two, and hit a batter. 

River Cats right-handed starter Bruce Billings allowed two runs (both earned) in six innnings. He issued five hits, three walks, and struck out four.

Game two of this scheduled four-game series will be Friday night at Raley Field with a 7:05 pm first pitch. Right-hander Justin Fitzgerald (0-2) will start for Fresno against Sacramento right-hander Travis Banwart (5-5).

 

GRIZZLIES PAWS:

Fresno leads the season series over Sacramento, 5-4. Five of the nine games this year between the two teams have been decided by one run. The Grizzlies are 13-12 in one-run games this year.

Francoeur has nine years of Major League experience but is playing Triple-A for the first time. He earned his first promotion to the Major Leagues with Atlanta in 2005 from Double-A Mississippi in the Southern League.

Villegas had his first start for Fresno at second base this season.

Lost in the good pitching tonight for Fresno was right-hander Brett Bochy's two shutout innings. He worked the sixth and seventh.