Weatherly, Grizzlies top Rawhide 3-1 to snap skid
Visalia, CA (Wednesday, June 23) – The Fresno Grizzlies (27-17) ousted the Visalia Rawhide (12-32) 3-1 Wednesday evening from Valley Strong Ballpark thanks to an outstanding pitching performance. Fresno ceased their four-game losing streak and have now won 13 of 14 against Visalia this season. Three Grizzlies’ arms allowed a
Visalia, CA (Wednesday, June 23) – The Fresno Grizzlies (27-17) ousted the Visalia Rawhide (12-32) 3-1 Wednesday evening from Valley Strong Ballpark thanks to an outstanding pitching performance. Fresno ceased their four-game losing streak and have now won 13 of 14 against Visalia this season.
Three Grizzlies’ arms allowed a season-low in opponents’ hits and combined for 13 strikeouts. Starter Sam Weatherly (2-3) was sensational in five scoreless innings of work. He gave up one hit and two walks while striking out nine, earning his second professional victory. Anderson Pilar followed the lefty with two solid frames. Pilar notched a pair of punchouts to pick up his fourth hold. Finally, Robinson Hernandez recorded his first save of the year after two perfect innings. He fanned a pair.
Fresno took the lead in the fourth when Mateo Gil doubled and scored on an Eddy Diaz RBI single. The advantage rose to 3-0 in the fifth when Daniel Montano laced a triple and waltzed home on an Ezequiel Tovar RBI double. Tovar would plate the third run on a wild pitch.
The Rawhide achieved their only run in the seventh from a Lyle Lin RBI groundout. Visalia southpaw Blake Walston (2-2) suffered the decision despite five fantastic frames. He whiffed nine batters in the process. Both Rawhide relievers hurled two scoreless innings apiece. The two squads are back in action tomorrow night.
Top Performers: Fresno Grizzlies (Colorado Rockies)
• LHP Sam Weatherly (5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K)
• LF Daniel Montano (2-3, 3B, R, HBP)
• SS Ezequiel Tovar (2-4, 2B, RBI, R)
Top Performers: Visalia Rawhide (Arizona Diamondbacks)
• LHP Blake Walston (5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 K)
• LHP Liu Fuenmayor (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K)
• RHP Jose Santamaria (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K)
On Deck:
Thursday, June 24 @ Visalia Rawhide, Fresno RHP Keegan James (2-0, 2.21) vs. Visalia RHP Junior Mieses (1-0, 3.91), 6:00 pm PT
ON THAT FRES-NOTE:
Grant Lavigne (13 games) and Julio Carreras (7 games) both saw their hit streaks come to an end Wednesday evening. Lavigne’s 13-game hit streak was the longest span by a Grizzlies batter this season while Carreras’ was on a personal-best streak.