Grizzlies Claw Way to 9-8 Win in 10 Innings

Oklahoma City - Andrew Stevenson's RBI single in the top of the 10th inning broke a tie and sent the Fresno Grizzlies to a 9-8 win against the Oklahoma City Dodgers Friday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
The Dodgers fought back to tie Friday night's series opener between the teams three times, including knotting the game at 8-8 by scoring two runs in the sixth inning. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City's pitching staff retired 16 straight batters between the fifth and 10th innings to help send the game to extra innings.

In the top of the 10th, Fresno designated runner Wilmer Difo started the inning at second base and later scored when Stevenson chopped a one-out RBI single into left field to put the Grizzlies ahead, 9-8.
Oklahoma City's Drew Jackson was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the 10th inning, but Fresno pitcher Dakota Bacus (4-1) then recorded three straight outs to close out the game and earn the win.
Friday's loss sent the Dodgers to a third straight defeat as the Grizzlies took a 1-0 series lead in the lone series of the season between the teams.
The Grizzlies took a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Brandon Snyder sent a two-run homer out to the Budweiser Deck in left field to put Fresno in the lead.
OKC's Edwin Ríos drilled a solo homer out to center field in the bottom of the second inning to cut Fresno's lead to 2-1. The home run was his ninth home run of the season and extended his hitting streak to a season-best nine games - his longest since a 16-game streak in 2016 while with High-A Rancho Cucamonga.
Cameron Perkins followed and reached on an error before Drew Jackson doubled. Perkins then came around and scored on a RBI groundout by Jake Peter to tie the game, 2-2.
The Grizzlies (30-31) regained the lead in their next at-bat. Alec Keller led off with a double and scored when Collin Cowgill followed with a RBI single by for a 3-2 advantage.
OKC's Zach Reks led off the bottom of the third inning with a solo homer out to right-center field to tie the game, 3-3, as the Dodgers have now homered in a season-best nine straight games.
Fresno then broke open the game in the fourth inning, scoring five runs.
Raudy Read led off with a walk and scored on a RBI triple by Matt Reynolds for a 4-3 advantage. Later with two outs, the Grizzlies added four more runs. A RBI double by Wilmer Difo, followed by a two-run double by Yadiel Hernandez and RBI double by Snyder pushed Fresno's lead to 8-3.
The Dodgers (23-37) responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring three runs.
Oklahoma City opened the inning with three straight hits, including a RBI single by Connor Joe to cut Fresno's lead to 8-4. Will Smith added a RBI groundout, and later with two outs, Shane Peterson knocked a RBI single into right field to cut Fresno's lead to 8-6.
The Dodgers added two runs in the sixth inning to tie the game. Angelo Mora entered the game as a pinch-hitter, singled and scored on a RBI double into center field by Joe to cut Fresno's lead to 8-7. Smith's RBI single later tied the game, 8-8.
Dodgers pitchers Kevin Quackenbush, Josh Sborz, Caleb Ferguson and JT Chargois combined to retire 16 straight Fresno batters from the fifth through 10th innings.
The Dodgers had two loud flyouts in the ninth inning that sailed to the outfield wall by Smith and Perkins, but Oklahoma City was unable to bring home a run.
Dodgers reliever Chargois (1-1) was charged with the loss, allowing one run and one hit in the 10th, with one walk and one strikeout.
The series continues at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark with fireworks to follow, presented by Oklahoma Blood Institute.
Tickets are available through the OKC Dodgers ticket office located on South Mickey Mantle Drive, by phone at (405) 218-2182, or by visiting okcdodgers.com.  
 
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